T H E B O O K O F TH E OTTER

A MANUA L F OR SP OR TSM E N A ND NA TURA L/STS

R I C H A R D C L A PH A M

A UTH OR OF

O! -HU TI G O T H E L AK LA D F LL S F N N N E N E , ” R OUG H SH O O T I NG ET , C .

With I llus tra tio n s fro m Ph o tog raphs by the A u tho r

F e s a nd Al red Ta lor . L e f y

AND A N INTROD UCTION BY L L H I I A T PS . . W M M O . M H O O N ,

H G N M H EAT RAN TO , L I I T E D

6 F LEET LA E L E . . . N , O N DO N , C 4

PREFA CE

- is o ular I N these days otter hunting a p p sport , and

in consequence there are now many more packs o f

t otterhounds han was formerly the case . Of all

o f o ne beasts chase in this country, the otter is the

for about which we know least , he is a great

O f th e wanderer , a creature night , and therefore f di ficult to study systematically .

o Of the many pe ple who follow hounds , com

arative l o r p yfew understand the science Of hunting ,

the habits o fthe creature which forms their quarry .

This is pro bably to some extent due to the fact that there are very few books dealing exclusively

o f with the otter and his hunting . A knowledge

the science o fhunting and the habits o fthe quarry

can be picked up by those who have leisure to

are study the subject afield , but there others whose PRE FAC E

o f s o opportunities doing are limited . It is ,

and therefore , in the hope Of interesting perhaps

r i inst ucting the latter , that we have wr tten the

following chapters .

C P R . LA HAM .

TROUTBEOK ,

RE W IN DERME .

A ril 1 2 2 . p , 9 CONTENTS

C HAP . PREFACE

I N TRO DUCTI O N

I . THE N A TURA L H I STO RY OF THE OTTER

TH ’ I I . E OTTER S H A UNTS A ND

I I I . OTTER PA ST A ND

IV. U DS A ND TERRI ERS H O N . M v. RE I N IS CEN CES

I N DE!

LIST OF ILLUSTR ATIONS

’ OTTER B ASKING I N SHALLO W WAT E R F ron tisp z e ce To face pag e C V W E W 0 OTTER TRA KS LEA ING AT R , ALKING 4

FURRO W MAD E B Y OTTER IN D EEP SNOW 4 0

TUNNEL MAD E B Y OTTE R IN SNOW 5 3

E C W P OTT R TRA KS IN SNO , JUM ING 5 3

THE HUNTSMAN B RINGING HIS OTTER ASHOR E 7 9

. To THE VE K . AND D . O . H RETURNING MAIN RI R 79

. . I o z A KILL WITH THE K AN D D . O H .

HI W Y W Y ! , ORR , ORR

’ TE w . P A FAMOUS OT RHOUND , MR THOM SON S ” SNOW DRO P

’ P E SOM E OF MR W . THOM SON S ROUGH OTT R HOUN DS

F F W AND D . . H . V O TO K . O MO ING DRA

GOING TO THE MEET B Y F ERR Y O N LAKE W IN DER M ER E

I I

INTRODUCTION

B ECK O U SE H ,

L G I G G E SW I CK ,

F th 1 2 2 e b . 1 2 . , 9

MY AR L P M —I DE C A HA , am much flattered at your invitation to write an introduction to your ” Book of the Otter , and only wish I were a good enough hand with the pen to do your most interesting book the justice it deserves . If I were asked to find fault with your work I

s a should y its only failing was its brevity . And

I would ask fo r a few more hunts and to have

them rather more elaborated . And if you could no t o r only expound to whips , either amateur

o wn professional , how you do your work as such

b ut mahe th em into whips as go o d as yo urs e lf

the re b y yo u would take an enormous amount o f 1 3 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

’ worry and responsibility Off many a huntsman s

shoulders .

sa As you y in your letter to me , a book on such an interesting subject is sure to create a

t o n friendly criticism , more par icularly such controversial subjects as early meets versus late ones and pure - bred otterhounds versus draft

foxhounds .

Admittedly yo u and I have always taken rather

o n two so d opposite views these questions , espite the very fair pros and cons you give these

respective arguments in your book , may I put in

a further argument in each case o n behalf o f hounds ! Take early meets with a pack hunting three

and four days a week . It is only possible to have

e arly meets in the hottest part Of the ye ar— say

middle of June to end o f August in o ur North

Country , and a rather longer period with South

and West Country packs . Say hounds meet at

a m o n five . . four days in the week . Hounds may

have to take anything from o ne to two hours to 1 4 I N TROD U CT ION

get from kennels to the meet . The men are in kennel at least an hour before the ‘ hunting pack

o ut so turns , we know that hounds get no rest

after that hour , which is probably shortly after m two a . . Hounds would normally be back in

kennel after a day o f this sort within an hour o r

F o r o f o f . two midday the rest that day , apart

from the disturb ance— to hounds— Of ordinary

kennel routine , they are unable to get genuine

’ rest o n a hot summer s afternoon . The result is

o r o f that after a fortnight , even a week such work — and I have many instances in my Old hunting

r — dia ies Of both you get a jaded pack , a tired

staff , and a weary Master . And I have been unfortunate enough myself to have never seen

m . even a hunt before eight a .

If anyone will guarantee to put hounds o n to

the line Of a travelling do g otter o n a given day I

would be there with hounds every time . But

o u . otherwise , no thank y

As to otterhounds versus foxhounds , I am

i c d t a o r O conv n e h t finance , rather the lack f it , is 1 5 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R the only reason why draft foxhounds are preferred

’ - i to otterhounds . Otter hunt ng is a poor man s

W to sport , and few people realise hat it costs run

to a pack and country . If you get a Master take a country he has very Often spent enough o ut o f his o wn pocket when he has paid the difference between the subscription list ! and the hunting

b o unds o n expenses . And breeding a big scale adds enormously to expenses . The result is that in nine cases o ut of ten the pack is made up o f

do - draft g foxhounds , and a very few rough coated otterhounds . A n attempt may be made to breed a litter o r two a ye ar from the rough otterhound

o r six o bitches . Five puppies may be got ut to

o r walk , and three four left in kennel . As many o f these as survive— possibly two and a half o r

e — o n thre couple are brought the following season , and unle ss they are hopeless physical wrecks they are put into the pack to keep up the theory

o f tte rh un d that they are a pack o o s . And good o r bad workers they are Often kept o n for this same purpose only . Under these circumstances , I 6 I N TRO D U CT I ON

and they are far from uncommon , no wonder the average member o f an otter - hunting field prefers the foxhound . Any M . O . H . can get draft fox

— hounds , and frequently get them as a gift hounds that have been the best Of fo x-hunters and fox

ot to o o r an o f catchers , but have g slow for y a dozen other reasons are unable to run up to the

o f pace a modern foxhound pack . These draft

hounds know all about hunting , and only want entering to their new quarry to make most excellent otter-hunting hounds at a minimum Of expense and trouble .

o n But if an M . O . H . breeds otterhounds the m sa e lines that foxhounds are bred , breeds by selection , breeds each year enough puppies to get a big enough young entry the following year big enough no t only to be able to put down immediately any physical crock that may come

a m , but big enough to allow for dr fting a certain

— o f number during and at the . end their first

season you can have , in my humble opinion , a

- pack Of pure bred otterhounds , not only not 1 7 B T H E BOO K OF TH E OT T E R

to o f inferior , but superior to any pack draft

o foxhounds . I may appear to enthusiastic on this

— I point am certainly rather disappointed . I bought my first otterhounds in 1 903 . I started

1 0 . 1 1 two breeding in 9 5 In July, 9 4 , having for o r three years prior to that date put over fifty

o ut I puppies to walk each year , had just over forty

- couple o fpure breed otterhounds in kennel . And

I was hOping to prove that before many more years passed my confidence in the otterhound was not

o misplaced . But in 1 9 1 9 I was reduced t under

ten couple , and circumstances have since pre vented me continuing my experiment to anything

a sa like the s me extent . And I must y that I have never found the otterhound quarrelsome either in

o r o kennel ut .

I hope you will forgive my keen advocacy o n

o f - behalf the pure bred otterhound . I am sure

We should both dislike to se e him entirely

- fie ld eliminated from the hunting , “ and only to be found as a weird and useless animal o n the Show b ench . 1 8 I N TRO DUCT I ON

May your book have the great success that it

deserves . That it will give great pleasure to all who know anything about the otter and the f o am . hunting it , I sure That it will be the means o fattracting many new converts I devoutly w hope . And if I may add a wish ith a yet more

all personal note , may I meet yourself and my other good otter - hunting friends at many another

o r good hunt , whether the meet be late early , the

hounds otterhounds or foxhounds .

Yours very sincerely ,

MP W. THO SON .

I 9

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

to an creatures , in order enable them to lead

aquatic existence . The reason for this intensive

development o f their swimming powers by

certain animals probably lies in th e fact that aquatic life opened a wider and safer field for

o f them , both in the matter food supplies and

protection from their natural enemies . The otter family is widely distributed over

so the globe , before entering upon a detailed

o fo ur o f description British otter, it may be interest to glance at other species inhabiting foreign

Th e countries . typical otters are marine as well as aquatic in their habits , many Of them Visiting the se a , where they live in the caves and other retreats

o ne o f along the coast . There is the family,

i - e . however , . , the sea otter, which is entirely

i o f mar ne . The skin this otter has always been

- keenly sought for by fur traders and trappers , and it is owing to constant harassing by such people

- that the sea otter is no w all but extinct . This otter differs in m any ways from its aquatic relations .

- It possesses large flipper like hind feet , a short tail , 2 2 NAT URAL H I STORY OF T H E OTT E R and small , delicate forefeet . The hind paws

fo r th e alone are used swimming , delicate and sensitive forefeet being employed in locating the

’ o f otter s food , consisting mussels , crabs , and other

-fish shell , which it hunts for amongst the rocks at O the bottom f the se a. This otter spends its entire

and existence in salt water , has been found as far as twenty miles from land .

The female usually has but a single young one ,

so o n a born , it is thought , the l rge beds of seaweed

L o n commonly known as kelp . ying her back in

se a t the , the mo her sleeps and suckles her baby in that position . In Africa there is a species known as the spotted

h has r necked otter , w ich shorter ea s , longer toes , and more hair about its nose than the common otter . Africa also produces a large otter which ha s more or less given up its aquatic habits . The

’ o n claws this otter s forepaws have disappeared , while those o n the hind feet have practically done

n i so . In I d a there is a small otter whose claws

o f i resemble those the forego ng , and in both 2 3 THE BOO K O F THE ‘ O TT E R animals the sense o f touch in the forepaws is

th e extremely delicate , which no doubt enables creatures to locate c ertain o ftheir prey b y feeling f or it . In the large African otter the webs between the toes are greatly reduced , and the facial bristles o r whiskers are much softer than those possessed by the common otter .

can O South America boast f a very large otter , whose tail is wider and more flattened than is the

case with the otters above mentioned . It will thus be seen that there are only slight differences between individuals composing the typical otters .

’ The common British otter (L a tra o u lgan s ) is

o f known by a variety names in this country . The

a dwr i Welsh call the nimal g , while in Cornish it

'

. an is written durgi In the Highl ds , where Gaelic

dOb hran is spoken , the name is . The physical formation o f the otter is admirably adapted to fit f it fo r an aquatic existence . In order to o fer the least possible resistance to the water when th e

’ animal is swimming below the surface , the otter s head and muzzle are flattened , and the ears are 2 4 NAT URAL H I STORY OF T H E OTT E R

very small . Both ears and nostrils can be closed

NO 1 to exclude the water . The body 3 1” lo w is long , , and sinuous in

s e t movement , upon short legs which are loosely articulated .

The feet are palmate , with five

r -t e toes a med with short , non

tractile claws , and perfect inter

digital webs . The tail is more than half the length Of the head

and and body , broad at the base ,

horizontally flattened . Beneath the root o f the tail will be found a pair Of small glands containing a fetid liquid Secretion . Being

- an aquatic , sub Arctic species , the otter is furnished with a body

f wo o t . covering kinds The thick ,

- close under fur , which attains

O TTE R S RUDD E R Of is . Special luxuriance growth , f i o r . e fo r provided two purposes , . , keeping o ut is the wet when the animal in the water , 2 5 TH E BOOK OF TH E OT T E R and fo r preventing loss o f heat during cold

- weather . Overlying this under coat is a cover

o f f ing longer hairs , which are sti fer and more h shiny , greyis in colour at the base , and brown at the tips . This dark colouring shows in most pronounced fashion o n the upper portions o f the

and O body, on the outer surfaces f the legs and

o f shoulders . The inner portions the legs , belly ,

- chest , throat , and cheeks are brownish grey . The throat Often shows a good deal o fwhite o r greyish

in r white irregula patches . This , however , varies

n co siderably in individual specimens , some show

s . ing a good deal Of it , other practically none at all l Turning again to the head , we find the eyes smal

SO- l and dark coloured , while the ca led whiskers are long , stiff, and thick at the base . These long,

f o n - sti f hairs grow the upper lip , and there is a tuft o f — o ne them over each eye , and two tufts below

— u o f the other o each cheek . In the case the domestic cat these whiskers are soft, and O possess a very delicate sense f touch , thus enabling the animal to creep noiselessly through 26 NAT URAL H I STORY O F T H E OTT E R

’ undergrowth in pursuit Of prey . Should the cat s

No . 2 .

’ O E S HEAD SH O W I N G W H I TE M A RK I N S A B O T E O H TT R , G U T H M UT A ND T H R O AT .

whiskers touch the grass o r other growth o n

is each Side , puss then instinctively aware that there 2 7 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

ffi and is not su cient room for her body to pass , that

she will therefore make a rustling sound if sh e

so persists in her advance , and alarm her prey .

’ These soft hairs o n the cat s face are quite adequate fo r o n her purpose , because she hunts land and h hates wet . Soaked with water the soft airs would

SO a droop and prove useless , and it is for this re son that the otter ’s whiskers 3 ) have gradually developed until now they are strong and stiff in order to withstand the exigencies o f frequent

to o underwater journeys . They are used , , in a

r h o n rather diffe ent way , for alt ough while land they may aid the otter to make a quiet approach o n prey, their chief purpose is for locating

— in o f e tc — food the shape frogs , fish , either

o r o n o f beneath stones , the bottom the river

’ n - bed . The long hairs o the otter s upper lip

fo r are susceptible Of considerable movement , their development has been followed by that Of the muscles beneath , which give the puffy appearance

’ to i the otter s face . Prov ded with perfect inter

o n digital webs all four feet , the otter when 2 8

T H E BOO K O F T H E OT TE R coast being usually heavier than otters frequenting inland waters . No doubt the quantity and quality o fthe food supply has a good deal to do with the variation . Roughly speaking , the average weight

lb . do 2 0 . 2 Of a g otter is from lb to 4 , and of a bitch ,

o 20 . 1 6 lb . t lb As far as record weights are

o concerned , Daniel mentions an tter taken in the

Le a o 1 ar river in Oct ber, 794 , which scaled upw ds ” o f 0 4 lb . Turning to a more reliable source Of

F ie ld Of information , however, we find in the

th 1 1 o f Of July s , 9 9 , a list the lengths and weights eleven large otters killed in Norfolk . I take the liberty o f quoting the particulars which are as follows

1= l b 0 b . 8 l . Males , 4 inches , 3 7 ; 5 3 2 inches , 3 ;

l 0 lb 2 b . 0 2 8 . 5 % inches , ; 5 3 inches , 7 ; 5 inches ,

2 lb . lb . 8 2 lb . 0 2 7 ; 5 inches , 3 ; 4 inches , 3 ; 49

1 8 . inches , lb

6 lb . 6 1 6 lb . 1 Females , 4 inches , ; 43 inches , ; 1b 1 . 44 inches , 4 It will be seen from the above how extremely weight varies in relation to measurement . Bitch 30 NAT URAL H I STO RY OF T H E OT T E R otters occasionally weigh far heavier than any

Of those mentioned in the foregoing list .

F ie ld o f 2 2 nd 1 1 o ld In the September , 9 7 , an

1 8 1 r record is given (March , 3) of a la ge bitch otter L ’ trapped near even s Hall , Westmorland ,

— 2 . measuring 54 inches , and weighing 72lb The

do o f record otter killed by hounds , a g otter 34

lb . . o n . , was accounted for by the Essex O H

’ 1 0th 1 0 o f July , 9 7 , during Mr Rose s mastership

s e a that pack . This otter was found in the

marshes near Ipswich . Generally speaking , very

f 0 f o . o r o r few otters 3 lb over are accounted by , hounds .

It appe ars to be a matter of uncertainty as to O how long a bitch tter goes with young . We have heard it said nine weeks , but have no reliable evidence to go by . As to the number o f cubs in a litter , two appear to be more often laid down than three , although five have been more than once found in the same couch . Roughly speaking, the average number appears to be from two to three . 3 1 T H E BOOK OF T H E OT T E R

As to how many years an otter in a wild state i s s a . will live , it practically impossible to y We

have seen otters killed by hounds , whose general

appearance and state o f their teeth pointed to the

fact that they had arrived at a ripe old age . Otter

cubs o fsimilar age have been found in every month

o f ar t e o ld the ye , thus exploding h supposition n that otters bred only in spring . You g bitch otters appear to pair as soon as they arrive at

maturity, thus cubs are produced as above stated .

Otters o fabnormal colour make their appearance

B a minnte n o n from time to time . In the d volume

” o f - Hunting , there is an account a cream coloured

otter killed on the West Dart , while in A Fauna

o f a - Argyll by H rvie Brown and Buckley, there is mention of a pure white otter which was killed

in Jura .

- Although a clean feeding animal , the otter is

a creature o ne hardly associates with human food .

F o r all that the heart and o ther portions o f an

’ otter s anatomy have been served up at table o n

several occasions ere now , presumably we suppose 3 2 NAT URAL H I STO RY OF T H E OT T ER

r for experimental pu poses . Which reminds us of

o ld the yarn concerning the trapper, who when

- asked if he had ever eaten turkey buzzard , replied

Ye s have - siree , I eaten turkey buzzard , but ” ah h e r I don t h after it . On one occasion we became possessed of a dead otter , whose carcass , after skinning , we presented to two dogs . The latter promptly turned up their noses at it , whereas

several cats to which it was afterwards given se t

o f about devouring it quite keenly . In the case

r hounds , unless the carcass of their qua ry is still warm and they are excited by the free use of horn

no and voice , they will show great desire to do more than tear the body of an otter . ’ e— The otter s hid covering a sinuous body, with

— o f loosely articulated limbs is t ugh , and o fers more

’ resistance to hounds teeth than the skin of a fox , which soon disintegrates when worried by the pack . As far as hounds are concerned , the scent of an otter must at times be to them exceedingly

— strong , yet to the human nose even if the latter

’ i s held close to the animal s body— there is only a 33 C T H E BOOK O F T H E OT T E R

faint and not unpleasant odour , very different to

the rank scent o f a fox .

As previously mentioned , there appears to be

considerable uncertainty as to how long the bitch

o f otter goes with young . In the Master

a o n Game , the oldest and most import nt work I the chase n the English language , written between

’ 1 1 I the years 1 406 and 4 3 by Edward l I . s gran d

so n o f o Edward , second Duke York , there is a sh rt ” o n chapter The Otter and His Nature , in which

it says that the otter be ars her young as long as

the ferret does . This chapter is of great interest , both as regards the knowledge o fvenery possessed

a by mediaev l hunters , and the quaint wording of

the letterpress . For this reason we take the I liberty of quoting it in full . t says , An otter is

a common beast enough and therefore I need no t

o f o n P and tell his making . She liveth with ( ) fish

dwelleth by rivers and by ponds and stanks (p ools) .

And sometimes she feedeth o n grass o f the

meadows and hideth gladly under the roots o ftrees

n a e e r the rivers , and go th to her feeding as doth 34 NAT URAL H I STO RY OF T H E OTT E R

other beasts to grass , but only in the new grass

as time , and to fish I have said . They swimmeth in waters and rivers and sometimes dive th under the water when they will, and therefore no fish can

to o ne escape them unless it be great a o . They

doth great harm specially in ponds and stanks , for a couple o f o tters without more shall well

o f o r a destroy the fish a great pond great st nk , and therefore men hunt them . They go in their love

so at the time that ferrets do , they that hold (keep) ferrets in their houses may well know the time

as the thereof . They bear their whelps long as ferrets and s o metimes more and sometimes less . They whelp in holes under the trees near the rivers . Men hunt at them with hounds by great

1

s a . mastery , as I y hereafter And also men take them at other times in rivers with small cords as men do the fox with nets and with other gins . She hath an evil biting and venomous and with her strength defe nde th herself mightily from the

t n Th e author of Ma s te r of G am e doe s no t s ay any hi g r more about the otte . 3 5 T H E BOO K OF T H E OTT E R

hounds . And when she is taken with nets unless men get to her at once she re nde th them with her

o ut o f L teeth and delivereth herself them . onger

i no t ak o f o f w ll I m e mention her , nor her nature , for the hunting at her is the best that men may s e e o f she has o f her , save only that the foot a goose , fo r she o ne hath a little skin from claw to another, and she hath no heel save that she hath a little

o f lump under the foot , and men speak the steps o r the marches o f the otter as men speak of the

o f trace the hart , and his fumes (excrements) l t re de e s or spraints . The otter dwelleth but little

one she fish in place , for where goeth the be sore

she afraid . Sometimes will swim upwards and downwards seeking the fish a mile or two unless it

be in a stank . Of the remnant of his nature I refer to

]l ’ ” Milb o urne the king s otter hunter . If otters bear their whelps as long as the

‘ Th e Milbourne re fe rre d to b y th e Duke of York can m e u rne w e fi n d s carcely b e any oth e r th an th e Willia M lbo ’ “ V o u r O e r m e ntione d in He nry Iv s re ig n as ale t of tt G ame hou nds ( note in ap p e ndix to Ma ste r o f 36

TH E BO O K O F T H E O TT E R travelling— up o r down -stream— can be verified

by the position in which the coke is left o n the stones . In our experience there is little reliability

- about this theory . On a rock in mid stream the position of the coke is quite as likely to be in the centre as at the sides , particularly if there is a tuft f o grass o r other growth o n the stone .

An otter is quite likely to turn round , just as

o r a cat dog does , prior to depositing the coke , therefore the position of the latter can hardly be a reliable guide as to the direction taken by the animal when it eventually moves o ff.

o f Owing to being the possessor a webbed foot ,

o with five toes and Short claws , the tter leaves a

( C ” — in a track hunting p rlance spur , seal , or ” — t o f mark , en irely different from that any other

animal to be met with in this country . Amongst

t o the general literature relating the otter , we have

’ to found small reference the animal s footprints , while in some cases the information o n the subj ect

F o r o ne r was incorrect . instance in a ticle we e r ad , it states N o other creature , saving a cat, 38 NAT URAL H I STO RY OF T H E OTT E R leaves such a print on N ature ’s page as does an

and otter . Four round small toes , if the soil be

favourable , a plain triangle just behind where the webbing o f the foot has rested .

IJ O . 4 ~

E O R E F O O T OF O TT E R L F T F , O EN S H O W I NG I NT E R P , I TAL W EB S D G I .

‘ L EF T F OR EF O OT O F O TT E R , L O SE D C .

— Now an otter like the badger , stoat , weasel ,

— o n and hedgehog has five toes each foot , and the marks o f the claws o r nails are always Visible in

the footprints . A cat has four toes , armed with 39 T H E BOO K O F T H E OTT E R

t the o f re ractile claws , marks which are not shown on the ground, except when the animal is about

o to make a spring . Alth ugh a cat track may

to o f approximate in size that an otter cub , the

a - latter alw ys shows claw marks , and partial if not entire imprints of five toes . On hard ground , claw-marks will Show when the impression o f the

o f s o rest the foot is practically invisible , anyone with a knowledge o fwoodcraft can hardly mistake the track o fa cat for that o f an otter cub . In the same way with the footprints of hounds , terriers , o r o f other dogs , their tracks all Show the imprints

’

o f . four toes , plus the marks the claws A terrier s track is far more like that of a fox than an otter, ’ while hounds leave large footprints , easy to

distinguish . We have also seen it stated that the track of an

otter is recognisable by the mark of its five toes , ” and the absence o f a heel . Under certain

conditions this is true enough , but on favourable

ground the mark o f the heel is plainly visible .

' In like manner an impression o f the webbing is 40

NAT URAL H I STO RY OF T H E OT T E R

n o f sometimes left . In s ow fair depth , the individual tracks o f an otter are more o r less

’ obliterated by the drag of the animal s body, which leaves a furrow as if a miniature snow-plough had f ’ been at work . Also in snow the drag o the otter s tail— in hunting parlance rudder o r pole is generally to be seen .

! The otter has three gaits walking , jumping ,

— and galloping . The walk Shows a line usually

— rather twisting o ffootprints o ne behind the other .

When jumping the tracks appear in pairs , with an interval between each pair . At this gait the imprints o fthe hind feet cover the tracks made by

s the forefeet . At the gallop , which i really ! ump ing at top speed , the hind feet are thrown ahead o f the forefeet .

4 1 CHAPT E R I I

’ THE OTTE R S HAUNTS AND HAB ITS

a As mentioned in the previous ch pter , otter cubs

o f may be born in any month the year . Prior to

h e r laying down young , the bitch otter selects a

o f couch in the Vicinity good feeding ground .

Her choice o fa retreat will vary with the locality

she in which happens to be at the time . In the low country her cubs may be laid down in a dry

n drain in the meadows , where frogs are ple tiful ,

o f o r and the ditches contain a supply eels , amongst

S the brushwood in ome large covert , where the

o ne o r ground is swampy, and through which two small runners meander o n their way to join the I parent stream . n the north , where the rivers are

s e e o f swift and rocky , the cubs may first the light

o r o f day in some cairn pile boulders , situated high 4 2

T H E BOO K O F T H E O TT E R at length they were so much annoyed by it that

n they se t for a workman to take up the floor , when to their great astonishment they found that an otter which had inhabited the moat had established her

o f nest beneath the boards the floor, and had there

o f deposited her litter young ones , by whose uncouth cries it was that the dinner -party had been ” disturbed .

Th e G am eh e e e f 1 1 In p for May , 9 4 , there is another interesting account of a somewhat similar

! 1 nature . It says On March 3th last , Mr

Co lwill Tre b artha , a tenant on the Estate , Corn

n o f wall , lost a lamb , and there bei g a mouth a

large drain in the field , thought perhaps there

might be a chance o fthe lamb having gone up the

drain . Getting a long stick he put it up the drain , and feeling something move he thought it must be

o n saw the lamb , but turning round , the lamb m coming up the field towards him . The sa e evening he put some lambs in the shippen in front

o f B o n . some cows , putting them some hay efore going to bed he went to see that the lambs were 44 OTTE Rss HAU NT S A ND HAB I T S

. e all right He was just hanging up his lamp , wh n

— h — something T e could not s e e what rushed o ut

past him . When he went to look at his lamb , he u ” found a yo ng otter lying with the lamb .

The account goes o n to say that o n the particular

s night in que tion , the local rivers were in flood . The above seems to point to the fact that the bitch

o f otter had been flooded out the drain , and had

carried her cub to the shelter of the shippen . A photograph o f the l amb and the otter cub was reproduced in conjunction with the above letter

press .

Otter cubs , like young foxes , are born blind .

F o x cubs remain so for a period o f about three

o f weeks , and it is probable that a similar length

o r time , perhaps rather more , elapses ere young

se e F ie ld o f 2 6th otters can . In the November ,

1 2 1 an ' 9 , there is an account of otter cub whose mother was inadvertently killed by hounds . This cub was rescued and brought up by hand . When taken from the b olt its age was estimated at fourteen days . Sixteen days later the cub opened 45 T H E BOOK OF T H E OTT E R

o f its eyes, thus a period thirty days elapsed from

o f s the time its birth until it could e e . At the end o fthe 1 thirty days the cub weighed 4 ounces . It

o n was at first fed milk and water , but became very

o n thin this diet , so a change was made to

- Mellins as mixed for a new born child . On

o n 1 1 th this the cub thrived , its weight October being just under 2 lb . It was taken from the holt

! o n 2 0 h August t . H ad this cub been fed in the ordin ary way by its mother it would possibly have

e it opened its yes at a rather earlier date , as would have escaped the s e t - back caused by an unsuitable

o diet . The eyes f the adult otter are very dark

o f coloured , but those a cub are at first much

o f fo x lighter, not unlike the eyes a young cub .

th e u When c bs are able to travel , the bitch otter leads them down from the head -waters to the larger streams . The cubs remain with their mother for

d as some consi erable time , witness the constant

' o f f 1 0 1 2 lh occurrence cubs o from lb . to . being

n h e put down in compa y with t bitch . They consort with their mother until she goes offto re ar 46 OT T E R ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB IT S

another family , when they are then left to fend for

themselves . From this it is apparent that the otter h as but o ne litter per year .

There is a great deal ye t to be learnt about the

fo r o f otter , , being more or less a creature the night , and elusive in its movements , it is extremely

diflicult . to study systematically Otter cubs , fi although somewhat delicate , are not dif cult to

- hand rear , and make very interesting and tractable

’ ar pets . If healthy to st t with , cows milk diluted with water is at first a satisfactory diet . Both cubs and adult otters are o fcourse easy enough to study in captivity, but like many other creatures

ar confined under simil conditions , they soon exhibit certain abnormal tastes and habits , and therefore afford little or n o real clue to the ir

behaviour in their natural habitat . At the ! L oological Gardens in ondon , the otters will eat almost anything thrown to them by Visitors . The bitch otter shows great affection for her

’ a in young , and will h ng about in their vicinity the

f r face o hounds o human intruders . If a bitch 47 T H E BOOK O F TH E OT T E R

s is th e n l with cub killed , cubs , if well grow , wi l

the ar search vicinity for their p ent , the same

applying to One of a pair which has been caught i in a trap , its mate rema ning near it all night in an

attempt to get it away . On these occasions the

otters make a considerable noise , blowing and

snorting in their agitation . On one occasion some

o f l years ago , a brother ours found three sma l otter

o n c cubs a Yorkshire beck , whi h he eventually

captured . The bitch otter remained close at hand ,

o f making a great fuss , regardless any possible

a . d nger to herself The cubs were carried home ,

o f a distance a mile or more , but were returned within a short time to the pool where they were found . The bitch otter again made her

o ff appearance , and eventually went with her

restored family .

Otters , being great nomads , wander long

a o ur dist nces up and down rivers , frequently h crossing igh watersheds , and travelling far across

country . Having no fixed abode like the fox , the otter inhabits temporary retreats or holts during 48 OTT E R ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB I T S

M o f the course o fhis journeyings . ost these holts have been used by generations of otters , and many a drain o r other shelter long forgotten by the people o f the neighbourhood is still regularly

a lm h inhabited by L and his kind . A olt may

o f - o n - consist a tree root the river bank , a dry drain , o r i a wet one contain ng a dry lying place , a stick heap near the stream , or situated in a plantation at

some distance from the water . On the rocky

o f o f rivers of the North , many the holts consist

-u o n th e - o f piled p boulders hill side , most which

are at some distance from the nearest beck o r

a o f tarn . These rock holts , m ny which lie at a

are high altitude , occupied by otters when crossing

from stream to stream over a watershed . In

“ ” summer , otters frequently lie rough , or in other

words Spend the day above ground . Near a lake

o r tarn an otter will often curl up in the rushes or h ’ long grass at t e water s edge . If disturbed he

l u1e tl into wi l then slide q y , the pool , and unless

hunted by hounds , will not show himself again .

Sometimes he will lie on a bank o r in a hedge close 49 D T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

o f th e as to the mouth a drain , latter serving him

a safe retreat when danger threatens . In fact , i dur ng the warm weather , otters are found lying

o f rough in all sorts unexpected places , often to the great surprise of those who fondly imagine that the animals never leave the vicinity of water . Certain tree -roots and also rock holts have their f entrances under water . In some o them there

o f cannot be any great amount ventilation . An

a l otter c nnot live without air , yet presumab y it can exist with less than most creatures . Otter cubs are

b o lts o f sometimes laid down in the above nature ,

no where there is ventilation shaft , and we have heard the theory expressed that under such conditions practically all the fresh air that the cubs

’ e get is carried in to them in their moth r s coat .

o ur e b o lt In xperience , however , even though a has h an underwater entrance , t ere are usually plenty of air passages coming down from above , at any rate , sufficient to supply a more than adequate amount o f fresh air for breathing

o f purposes . The advantage an underwater 50

THE BOOK O F T H E O TT E R and often long cross -country journeys undertaken

o ne by otters , must track them in the snow . On o ne occasion such a trail led us for a good ten

miles overland , the otter having left a stream ,

Via and made his way uphill a small runner . The

o ut a latter petered in the open ground , but the tr il

n o f led o in the direction a frozen reservoir .

Round this the otter had gone , then he followed

fo r the stream from the outlet some distance , after which he turned straight across country . Three o r four big stone walls had then intervened , but the otter— which had probably been over the same

- route before made straight to certain smoots , and passed through with no unnecessary searching for

o ut . a way He then visited a small lake , also

and frozen , again took to the outlet stream , down which he went until he arrived at the main river .

It must have been a pretty hard trip for so short

legged an animal , for the otter left a furrow in h the snow w ich was quite deep . From the point where he left the stream where we picked up his

to tracks , the spot where the trail entered the main 5 2

OT T ER ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB I T S

river in the next dale across the watershed , the had otter had not stopped once , but kept toddling

L r o n . In the ake Dist ict , otters regularly travel the passes over the hills , visiting the mountain

tarns , and going from one dale to another .

are o f Otters playful beasts , a favourite game

a theirs being sliding . They choose a steep cl y

o r bank , a smooth snow slope , and toboggan down

t it on their stomachs wi h evident enjoyment . Although one seldom sees these slides in this

r country, they are ve y common in Canada where we have often come across them . During the cold

o f weather a Canadian winter , otters spend a good

to deal of their time beneath the ice , being able

- breathe at the air spaces round the shore . These air -spaces are left when the water lowers after the

I 18 ce formed .

’ e Concerning the ott r s feeding habits , there

of appears to be a good deal misconception .

Some people imagine that the otter exists ent irely o n e fish , and for this reason should be don to death

- as a river poacher at every opportunity . We 53 T H E BOOK OF T H E OTT E R

have in the previous chapter compared the teeth

o f the otter and the seal , the latter animal swallow

its r ing food whole , while the fo mer masticates its

‘ food . Seals live upon fish , but it must be remembered that the otter belongs to the marten

to family, and , though well adapted lead an aquatic

’ o f existence , it still retains some the marten s

and e are hunting instincts , its t eth suited to seizing

and holding both furred and feathered prey . The

pine marten , stoat , and weasel will all eat trout

so greedily when they can get it, it is only natural

o that the otter , their relati n , well equipped for

swimming and water work , should show the same

do es taste . As a matter of fact he exhibit the same

taste as his smaller relatives , and to a much greater

degree , but he is also glad to vary his diet and add

o both flesh and f wl to the menu .

o f The uninitiated , whose knowledge otters has

to ! been gained by visits the oological Gardens ,

o f while realising the swimming ability the animals ,

o n look upon them as clumsy beasts land , and ill

adapted to lead an active existence on terra firma . 5 4 OTT E R ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB IT S

In an article comparing the badger and the otter ,

o n it says , The otter , the other hand , though an

o n expert swimmer , is land nearly as clumsy as his ” o f cousin the badger . The author the said article

o r no - can have done little otter hunting , for if he had , he would never have made such a foolish statement . Despite his webbed feet , the otter is built like the weasels , and exhibits a great deal o ftheir activity and quickness on land . For this reason he is well able t o cope with furred and feathered quarry .

’ fish Beginning the otter s menu with , we find he

se a . eats salmon , trout, trout , and coarse fish On

o f the west Scotland and in the Hebrides , otters

o n live a good deal the coast , but in the autumn they follow the salmon up the streams . Where

salmon are plentiful and easily secured, otters kill

o f a fish , take it ashore , and eat a portion the

. o ld shoulder only In the days in the Highlands , when otters were more numerous than they are at

to V i present, the crofters used regularly is t the

’ otters landing places, in order to gather the salmon 5 5 THE BO O K O F THE OT TE R left there The marks on such fish were known

’ as the otter s bite . In that delightful book ,

Wild Sports of the Highlands by Charles St

John , the author refers to the above practice as follows I was rather amused at an o ld woman

Sluie indho rn living at , on the F , who , complain

o f o f ing the hardness the present times , when a

’ puir body couldna get a drop smuggled whisky ,

’ o r shot a rae without his lordship s sportsman

’ finding it out , added to her list of grievances that

’ o even the otters were nearly all g ne , puir beasties .

do ! Well , but what good could the otters you I ! asked her . Good , your honour Why scarcely a morn came but they left a bonny grilse on the

ve na is o n scarp down yonder , and the was none the

i ’ o f waur the bit, the puir beasts eat themselves .

fish The people here call every eatable animal , ,

o r or flesh , fowl , venison , as they pronounce it

‘ ni F Ve n son . o r instance they tell you that the

’ ve nnison snipes are good , or that the trout are ” e nni o n not good v s in the winter .

Although an otter is a capable swimmer , he can 56

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

so very ne arly succeeded once . This seems unusual to me that it would be o f great interest if others have had a similar experience . This i inc dent took place about eight in the evening, and in a pool where there was only an opening o f a few feet where one could gaff the fish owing to trees . The trees undoubtedly accounted for the

to s e e as otter failing me , but as soon he raised his head above water in midstream and saw that there were others as well as himself after that fish he soon h a o ff t e . cle red , and fish was successfully landed The wild rushes made by the salmon after the otter ’s

first attempt were extraordinary, as the fish was

To about done and fit for gaffi ng. me this was a clear proof o f the instinctive fear and wonderful ” vitality in a fish when his natural enemy appeared .

Other instan ces o f a similar nature have been

Io o f recorded from time time , in some which the otter has succeeded in taking the hooked fish .

There is no doubt that an otter o r otters frighten

fish ar w , p ticularly salmon , hen chasing them about

a pool . The instinct of all wild animals is to 5 8 O TT E R’S HAUNT S AN D HAB I T S

o r attack a weakly wounded creature , even if

own belonging to their kind , and the otter which goes for a hooked salmon do e s so because he knows he stands a better chance o fcatching it than other

fish in the same pool which are free and untrammelled .

o do The tter must , therefore , considerable good

o f by ridding the stre ams weak and sickly fish .

An otter deals wrth large sea trout as it does with salmon , but in the case of trout it frequently eats

to . them entire , leaving nothing waste When

o dev uring fish an otter eats like a cat, with half

I c o f closed eyes . n the ase coarse fish , the otter often discards the head and tail , and in the same

e way with an eel , the h ad may be left Those who decry the otter as a fish-poacher should remember that the animal does not confine his attentions solely to o ne pool o r to o ne species of

ma diet during his nightly wanderings . He y fish

‘ u - and otherwise feed p stream for some miles , taking a trout here , an eel there , and perhaps a young rabbit somewhere else . 5 9 T H E BO O K O F T H E O TT E R

We have already seen that the otter must do

o r good by killing sickly wounded salmon , and in

o ld the same way with trout , he captures many an

cannibal fish which is far better o ut o f the water .

These o ld trout not only prey o n their own smaller

relations , but are great devourers of fish spawn , and

a the s me applies , only in a much greater degree, to er o r eels , which are the worst v min in about a

fish river or lake . Many coarse , too , are inimical to spawn and young fry, therefore the otter does far more good than harm by feeding on them .

E els and frogs , the latter being skinned by an

r otter, are the first qua ry that the bitch otter teaches her cubs to hunt . These are sought for

n o land and in the wet ditches and shallow runners . L o f . ater, the cubs are initiated in the art fishing

When first introduced to water , the cubs Show considerable reluctance to swim . This can hardly

so be because they are unable to do , but rather owing to a youthful aversion— as in the case o f a puppy— to entering a strange element for the first

to time . The bitch therefore takes them a stone 60 OTTE R ’S HAUNT S AN D HAB I T S

t o r in midstream , and ei her pushes them in , leaves them there until they are at last tempted to enter

se a the water and follow her . On the coast otters spend a good deal o ftime searching for flounders in

. al the shallow pools They so eat crabs , lobsters ,

s e a ar . anemones , and v ious crustaceans Otters ’ h sometimes visit the lobster fishers creels , and t ere are instances o n record o f part ially grown otters having been found drowned in the creels . On inland lakes and streams otters feed o n fresh

- sh water mussels and cray fi .

A S previously mentioned , it is no uncommon thing to find the remains of fur and feather in

r otter coke . Otters captu e waterhens and dab

o f chicks , although we are the opinion that they

prefer other food if they can get it . At any rate

we are familiar with a certain reed-fringed pond

on the hills , where a bitch otter and two cubs

o f 1 2 . about lb weight resided for some months . This pond was also occupied by quite a number

o f waterhens , yet there were no apparent remains

o f these birds to be found in the Vicinity , which 6 1 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R pointed to the fact that the otters left them pretty much alone . A rather curious thing happened when we visited the pond with hounds . At first the waterhens were much in evidence , but after hounds had been at

o r two work for an hour , we began to find dead waterhens lying about . These were not killed by hounds , but were drowned , and had practically — T as far as we could see committed suicide . o escape danger a waterhen will keep diving , and the birds under discussion had evidently— owing to the continual presence o fhounds— done so until

o ut they were tired , and subsequently perished under water . What made their behaviour stranger still was the fact that there was a small covert adjoining the pond , in which the birds could have found sanctuary o n terra firma until all danger was past .

Both dabchicks and waterhens devour fish

so o ut spawn , otters do good by thinning the ranks of these birds . At times otters will take game

i are o f b rds , and there authentic records grouse , 62 OTT E R’S HAUNT S AN D HAB I T S

pheasants , and duck having been killed by them .

One o r two instances of this will suffice . In The

To m Natural History of Sport in Scotland , by

! Speedy , the latter says That he can scent and pounce upon his prey like a fox was demonstrated by following his tracks among snow up Corrie i l Macshe e Burn at D alnasp da . The trail left the water - side and sh owed where the animal had made a bound and caught a grouse in its roosting - place m among the snow . Returning to the strea , he had

o f crossed on to a boulder in the centre the burn , where he devoured part o f his prey . The same author mentions a case of an otter o n the Biel L estate in East othian , which dragged a foster

t mother hen out of a coop and par ly devoured it , as well as a number o fyoung pheasants big enough i to s t a . s e t out mongst the grass Traps were , baited with the dead bodies of the birds , and a large

a otter w s secured ; the massacre then ceased .

, Th e G ame ke e e r 1 1 In p for August , 9 3 , there is a note concerning the deaths of fifteen sitting i pheasants in a covert beside a river . E ach b rd 63 T H E BOOK O F T H E OT T E R

had a hole gnawed down through the back , the

carcasses being left lying near the nests , not an egg having been touched . A duck caught o n her

nest is treated in the same way by an otter . In

Th e G am e h e e e r 1 1 p for June , 9 9 , there is a note concerning an otter which was caught in a tunnel trap baited with rabbit paunch . The trap was s e t

o f o ne in the middle a hundred acre wood . The

— otter was a cub , weighing 9 5 lb .

Waterhens and dabchicks , particularly the latter, when taken by otters , are pulled under the water , though they may be captured amongst the reeds and other undergrowth as well . Ducklings some times fall victims to the otter , though as a rule big pike do the greatest harm in this direction . Pike have been known to take pheasants as well as duck which had fallen into a lake during the course o fa

o n shoot . From available evidence , otters a stream c ontaining trout and coarse fish seem to

to prefer the latter . Possibly they are easier capture than trout . On hill streams , where the fish are small but very numerous owing to shortage o f 64

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R dalesman more than once found the carcass o f a lamb left close to the edge o f the water on the

s o o f lake h re , with the tracks otters round about

- it . N either a hill fox nor marten would be likely

o r r to drag ca ry the carcass to water , and the whole thing cert ainly pointed to the work o f otters .

An otter is a predaceous animal o f the weasel

r family, st ong , and active in its habits , and would

experience no difficulty in tackling a lamb . It is

’ never safe to be d o gmatic in one s statements con

o f cerning the habits wild creatures , because

generally speaking, the only regular thing about

them is their variability . C ases have occurred

where otters were responsible for killing ducks ,

n o grouse , pheasa ts , and rabbits , and th ugh such

behaviour is only occasional o n the part o f the

t do average o ter , it shows what he will when so

inclined .

In winter otters are sometimes hard put to it to

find food , and they have been known to take

poultry at such times . In the same way regarding

’ the a r dalesm n s statement about lambs, an otte 66 OTT E R ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB I T S

m a o ne y occasionally kill , although most people would laugh at such an idea . We know that hill

a o f foxes take l mbs , having scores times found

o o ne carcasses in and ab ut the earths , yet meets hunting people who resolutely refuse to believe that Reynard ever falls so far from grace as to w feed on lamb . A fox will eat trout hen he can

so . o ne get it , and will many dogs We have now which eats small trout as greedily as a cat , and no doubt foxes secure many fish when the hill - streams

are dead low in summer . It is no more strange for a fox or a do g to eat fish than for an otter to take an occasional lamb . All three are carnivorous

— the otter being least s o— and when all is said

and done , wild animals show very unusual traits at times .

’ Summing up the otter s feeding habits , we find

fish o f he kills , and in the case salmon he is

s e certainly wasteful . To t against this he takes

fish many a sickly , as well as cannibal trout , all

o f which are better o ut o f the way . He kills

and e o f fis waterhens dabchicks , both d vourers h 67 T H E BOO K O F T H E OTT ER

wn a spa , and he slays qu ntities of eels , which are the worst vermin to be found in lake o r stream .

o n Game is only an occasional item his menu , and nobody grudges him a few young rabbits .

Otters , therefore , if kept within reasonable limits ,

o f fo x do their share good , and , like the , provide the very best o fsport when hunted . When Reynard is rolled over by hounds it is the debt he pays for

o f the privileged existence himself and his kind , and the same thing applies to the otter . Given a

o f good pack hounds , hunting their district ffi properly , otters will be kept su ciently in check , and go od sport will be enjoyed by riparian owners and others .

The only occasion o n which an otter can do

really extensive damage is when he gets access to

a trout hatchery . Once he finds his way to the

breeding ponds he will kill fish right and left . If,

are — however , such places properly fenced o ff as they should b e— they will never suffer from the

. W attentions of otters Swans and other ildfowl ,

, kin fishe rs herons dabchicks , waterhens , g , frogs , 68 O TT E R’S HAUNT S AND HAB IT S

cannibal trout , and eels do far more damage to fish

an d and fish spawn than otters , with the exception

f r o W . certain ildfowl , provide no sport in retu n

fl -fishe rman The otter , like the y , is a sportsman ,

and for this reason the o ne should deal leniently with the other .

Otters do most o f their feeding and travelling

at night , but it is not an uncommon occurrence to find them abroad in daytime . In Canada we have o n several occasions seen them o n the ice

during the day , and once while watching a deer

r runway near a river , a big otte floated down

am o f stre within twenty yards us . H aving fed u - p stream during the night , an otter may take to

o f o r some holt at the end his journey, he may float down with the current— if the water is fairly

— deep and return to the b o lt from which he started . Although an otter can make wonderful headway a gainst a strong current , he generally avoids rapids

- and rough water when travelling up stream . On m co ing to such a place he lands , makes a detour ,

and enters the water again higher up . His 69 TH E BOO K O F T H E OT T E R feeding expeditions are not necessarily restric ted to the main river , for he often explores side streams , ditches , and other places , which lie at

a considerable distance from deep water . He usually leaves his h o lt— o r couch if he is lying

— and rough about dusk , returns to it before

F o r ‘ daybreak . the most part otters are silent

e creatures , but they whistle wh n calling to each

an d and b other , will snort low when playing together . In Can ada their playgrounds are the

” slides , and there two otters will gambol like puppies between the intervals o ftobogganing down the bank .

Although an otter does not dig to any extent ,

as he will , already mentioned , scratch up sand or

and soft earth for a certain purpose , and his feet claws aid him in securing crustaceans and other

t o food . Although the otter is unable climb

like the marten , he can on occasion jump and scr amble over high places in a wonderful manner .

In the N orth , otters regularly travel deep ghylls and watercourses where they are obliged to climb 70 OT TE R ’S HAU NT S AN D HAB I T S to some extent , and when hard pressed by hounds

it takes a very rough place indeed to stop an otter . In big coverts an otter will stand up before hounds like a fox, and will travel at a surprising pace .

’ On rough , rocky rivers , an otter s claws ,

o n particularly those the hind feet, are often very much worn down . This may be accounted fo r by

o f the state the going . A mounted specimen now in our possession has the claws o f the hind feet

o ff o n practically worn , whereas the nails the

forefeet are nearly perfect .

There are probably few waters in Great Britain which are not at some time o r other haunted by

h e o f otters . Even in t vicinity towns the marks o f otters may be found beside canals and streams ,

the surroundings o f which would appear to be

anything but attractive to L a tm . Being chiefly a

o f creature the night , nomadic and elusive in its

habits , the otter often spends a peaceful existence

o f in the vicinity human habitations , the occupants

- o f which never dream that the sly , goose footed

prowler is a frequent visitor to their water . The 7 1 T H E BOO K OF T H E OT T E R

majority of people have never seen an otter , except

n o r u der a glass case in some museum , within the

f e ! o th . confines oological Gardens The angler,

fishing at dusk, may sometimes be favoured by a

i o f o n gl mpse an otter , bent the same errand as himself, but as a rule few otters are seen except when put down by hounds .

TH E BOOK OF T H E OTT E R hound— app arently smooth -coated— swimming an otter in a river . On the farther bank are two

o f hounds , and two men . One the latter is transfixing the otter a s it swims with a long

- handled , three pronged spear . The other man is apparently about to throw a similar kind of spe ar

th e n at otter , while holdi g in his left hand a second

- spear with the ordinary type o fsingle bladed head .

a two On the near b nk are two more men , and hounds . One o f the latter appears to be rough

or - coated , at any rate broken haired , the other

- being a large , white , smooth coated animal . This hound is evidently a limer , as it is held in leash by

o ne o f . the men The other man , armed with a

- a single bl ded spear , is stabbing the otter in the hindquarters . It is apparent that in those early days the chief

o f use the hounds was in finding the otter , and

r once the latter was put down , the spea s were

o n brought into play . In the chapter the otter , it

says ! Men hunt at them with hounds by great

r e maste y, and men take them at other tim s in 74 OTT E R - H U N T I NG rivers with small cords as men do the fox with nets ” t and wi h other gins .

Thus we se e plainly that the otter was little

h o f s thoug t in tho e days , except for the value hi s . afforded by skin In early times a lime hound , i e . . , a hound held in leash , was used for harbouring deer and other game . Such a hound was keen and staunch , not too fast , and was taught to run

mute , in order not to disturb the game whose exact

his whereabouts master wished to discover . The rope by which the hound was led was kn own as

a o f or . a li m , being made leather silk Both collar and lead were often gaily coloured, and adorned with silver .

The method o f conducting the chase when hunting at an otter with hounds by great mastery was no doubt similar in so me respects to that practised at present . Instead , however , o f hunting the drag with the pack , lime hounds

to were used locate the quarry, the latter being

e t o th n bolted by terriers . In the prologue The ” o f to ! Master Game , it says with regard dogs 75 T H E BOO K O F THE OTT E R

And first I will begin with raches (running hounds) and their nature , and then greyhounds and

and t alaunts e their nature , hen and th ir nature ,

n an d and then spa iels and their nature , then mastiffs that men call curs and their nature , and then o f small curs that come to be terriers and

’ their nature . What these terriers were like

r to - r ffi compa ed the present day b eeds , it is di cult to sa h - y, but no doubt they were ard bitten animals , well able to bolt otters or foxes .

H aving bolted the otter , probably several hounds were then uncoupled , which kept the

o n the so quarry move , that the men got plenty o f chances to use their spears . The otter was allowed no law as is now the custom , but was transfixed at the first opportunity . The spears were evidently thrown at the otter , as well as used

n i to tra sfix h m o n the shallows .

’ So me rvile s 1 At a later date , in days ( 73 5) the spear was in general use , and it is mentioned as late as 1 878 in the Manual o f British Rural Sports by Stonehenge . Turning to the Otter Hunting 76 OTT E R -H U N T I NG

o f L o f Diary the late Mr James omax, Clayton

1 8 2 to 1 8 1 no Hall , which dates from 9 7 , we find mention o f the spear . In Field and Fern

1 6 . 8 (South) , by H . H Dixon , published in 5 , there

o f o f is an account Dr Grant , H awick , and his otter

hounds , without , however , any reference to spears .

o f o r Although the employment the spear , otter grains as it was sometimes called , was no doubt almost universally discontinued fairly early in the

w as last century, it probably used till a later date by individuals who kept a hound or two , and

fo x pursued otter , , and foumart after the manner

— o fthe Scotch tod hunter with his scratch pack . Nets were sometimes used in conjunction with

to spears keep an otter from reaching tidal waters .

- o To day , however, all such abominati ns have

no w been done away with , and it is left for hounds

to hunt and kill their otter, if they can , unaided .

Until a few years ago , it was customary to meet d quite early in the morning , often soon after ay

o break . N wadays , however , people are less

t o energetic , and it is nothing unusual o read f 77 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

m . fixtures as late as ten a . Although from a

“ ” o f social or love and lunch point view, late

n o meets are doubt convenient , the same can l hard y be said as regards hunting . Some Masters o f Otterhounds are averse to early meets because they say that the drag is then often so strong that

o hounds are very apt to pass ver their otter . By getting to the water later the drag has lost some o f its strength , and hounds are then brought to their

noses , and travel slower , thus being less inclined to pass their otter in its holt . Really the time of meeting should depend upon the character o f the water you intend to hunt . On a river flowing

o r through marsh water meadows , where the long grass and rushes are always more or less damp and

the the ground beneath them shaded from sun , scent will lie for hours , and there is no necessity to make a very early start . In the N orth , however , where the streams are swift and rocky , and have

- their sources far up the hill sides , there is often

o r little shade , except beside some covert , in some ’ m ghyll or ravine to which the sun s rays seldo 78

TH E H U NTSMA N B RI N G I N G H I S OTTE R ASHORE .

(Photo by N Clapham) .

O H R ET URN I N G TO TH E MA I N R I VE R . . .

T H E BOOK O F T H E OT T E R

An advantage o f meeting early lies in the fact that you perhaps find and kill your otter before

o f the real heat the day begins , thus making things easier fo r both hounds and field . It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule as regards the time of meeting , for as already mentioned , this will be influenced by the character o fthe water yo u

are are going to hunt , and, if you dependent on

o f subscriptions , the keenness or otherwise your subscribers .

In the case o f making a start with a newly

o f organised pack , containing a good proportion unentered hounds , it is advisable to get out early in the morning until such time as your hounds begin to understand their job and take an interest

o n in the business . Scent lies stronger both land and water during the early hours , and if your few entered hounds find and mark their otter , the unentered ones have a better chance when their w quarry is eventually put do n .

o f To a lover hound work , the drag left by an

er hi n a ott during s ightly w nderings , provides as 80 OTT E R -H U N T I NG

own much of interest when hounds can it , as the actual hunting after the otter is afloat . With entered hounds which try the banks carefully it is possible to find an otter without touching a drag at all . This frequently happens after a late meet , when the huntsman is a real trier , and can depend

o n . his hounds Still , we imagine that the majority o f keen otter-hunters enjoy watching the pack at

o n work a drag, and the music seems a fitting prelude to the chorus that arises when finally hounds mark and acknowledge in no uncertain

” tones that their quarry is at home .

Under favourable conditions the scent o f an

otter will lie for a very long time . In the shade ,

o r amidst tall herbage , among the water lilies , hounds can speak to it hours after their otter has f gone , and it is sometimes di ficult to know whether

they are the right way or running heel . Then is

the time to look for the seal o f your otter in the

o r sand, mud , other soft places , and note whether

u - the footprints point p stream o r down . Half the

of - pleasure otter hunting is to see hounds draw , 8 1 F T H E BOO K OF T H E OTT E R

is as that if they draw well , trying every root they

o o r w m o ut g , s i ming to some stone in midstream

n o f o which perhaps there is a piece wedging .

n tr o f Here a hou d will y a patch water lilies , there another will investigate a stick heap , until at last

o r there is a welcome note from Thunder, Sailor ,

o f some other member the pack , which denotes that a drag has at last been found . Gradually

or they work it out , fast slow according to its

- o n strength , until at last they mark at a tree root the bank . If you know your hounds you can tell

o r pretty well whether your otter is there , has

n merely run through the place and gone o . One o r two o f your most trusted favourites perhaps

to u - so Show an inclination push forward p stream ,

o u o f th e y go ahead , taking plenty time at all likely l ’ . o d holts Suddenly Warrior s head goes up , he winds the air for a second or two , then goes straight

- across the river , and his well known voice rings out as he proclaims that his otter is this time in the

b o lt o f . in front him The others surge over ,

tl e and s splashing the water as y go , a wild choru sz OTT E R -H U N T I NG

o awakens the echoes as hounds mark s lidly , some o f them tearing at the bank in their e agerness to

no have their quarry out o f that . There is

u w as o u do bt he is at home , but if there , y need only watch o ld Boatman swimming round and round beneath the holt in an endeavour to take the ” or scent wash , to convince you that hounds are right .

The great advantage o fmeeting early lies in the fact that if there is an otter o r otters working

t o the water that you propose hunt , you are

o f practically sure finding a drag , which at that

o f l time day will lie stro ngly . As a ready

as mentioned , otters lie rough , as well in holts , and may be found almost anywhere , often far from the main river . Here is where yo u benefit by a warm

fo r no trail , there will be doubt as to the point at which your quarry left the main river , and took to

o r o a side runner , out acr ss country to some pond or other favourite feeding ground . Supposing ,

o o n however, that y ur otter has left a drag the

o f banks the main river , which leads hounds 83 TH E BOO K O F T H E OT TE R

- ‘ u . steadily p stream If the drag is hot , the pack

will run it at speed , until they finally mark their

o r to otter in his holt, the trail suddenly comes an

. r end , and hounds are at a loss In this case you

o n otter may have gone some distance in the water , the latter having carried all scent away , and then

d . lan ed at some holt farther up H e may, too , have crossed the stream— perhaps in deep water

b o lt . and retired to a on the opposite bank Again , he may have dropped down with the current to his

original starting point, leaving no trace behind

. o f him If the river is narrow, he may , course , have crossed and re -crossed it in his journey u - p stream , the same applying in a lesser degree ,

. I to a wide river f possible , it is wise therefore to have a number of hounds on each bank , instead

o f , as some huntsmen do , crossing with the pack at shallows or other spots where the stream can be

forded .

By keeping hounds on the o ne bank and crossing

and b o lt here and there , much water many a likely

. to is passed over Harking back , however , where 84 OTT E R - H U NT I NG

hounds checked . The otter may still be in front ,

therefore it pays to make go od the water for some

- u . little distance p stream If, within a reasonable

o ff distance , hounds hit his landing place and mark

b o lt him at a , well and good , but if there is only a touch here and there on which hounds feather ,

o r two o ld denoting a stale line perhaps a day , it

is then advisable to try back . If hounds have

carried the drag at speed , they may, in their

eagerness , have overrun their otter, and left him

not so ve ry far behind . When casting back there

o fore , g slowly, and keep some hounds if possible

. o r on both banks Sooner later, with anything

o ne like luck , hounds should locate their otter on

o r f bank the other . Just as an early start a fords

a r so hot d ag , does it help hounds to more easily

wind their otter in his holt , should he have crossed

and left no trace behind him in the stream . Some hounds exhibit great aptitude for winding an otter

o u se e in this manner , therefore when y a member

o f the pack throw up his head and begin testing

o u no the air , y can be fairly sure that your otter is t 8 5 T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

o ff. a far If, instead of meeting e rly you had

arrived at the water late , on the foregoing occasion ,

you would probably have hit o ff a weak o r catchy

o drag , and have had to go slow, trying b th banks

o n carefully en route . If this happens a stream

which the Master knows well , and has often hunted

o re - before , he may simply cr ss and cross the water

to the various holts from which he has put down

n otters o previous occasions . Should hounds

t o o f refuse mark at any these holts , and the limit

’ o f the day s draw is reached , the result is a blank .

The sam e thing may happen o n a river which

has not been hunted for a long time . The meet

are to t is late , hounds left pick up a drag if hey

can , the field following at their leisure , and once

“ ” more it is a case o f nothing doing at the

o f conclusion the draw . It is when an otter has

via - o r left the main river a side stream , travelled

o r a long way overland to some pond , other

o f retreat , that the advantage meeting early is so

conspicuous .

Late in th e day the drag is very weak and 86

THE BO O K O F THE O TT E R

cras ie s a o f , and h ve in addition a fair knowledge

the habits of your quarry , there should be little

r excuse for a blank day, provided you sta t early enough in the morning to afford your hounds the chance o f picking up and sticking to a decent

f o drag . The s a e s t way o ffinding an otter is t drag

d an up to him , any other metho , at y rate on rivers , h holds an enormous element o fc ance . On a lake o r t kn o w a arn , which you yourself is inhabited by

f fo r o u otters , it is a di ferent matter , y can then throw o ff in the reed -beds o r other undergrowth

o f bordering the water, with a good hope putting your otter down before hounds have been long at work .

No - o r fixed rules are applicable to otter hunting ,

o f any other kind hunting for that matter , but it

to sa th e t is safe y that Master who is a rier , and

o n o ne keeps trying , will be the to bring to hand

s a most otters . Being himself of the never y die order, he will inculcate the same spirit in his hounds , for a slack huntsman makes a slack pack , and vice versa . 88 OTT E R-H U N T I NG

The late Rev . Jack Russell , of Devonshire fame , walked some hundreds o f miles before he found

his first otter . This was owing to the fact that his hounds at the beginning were unentered to otter .

When he finally got hold of an entered hound , f matters took a di ferent turn , and he showed capital

- sport , but his ill success at first was certainly not

for want o f trying .

h r W en hunting a river , particula ly in a hilly

district , a sudden flood may put a stop to sport .

the When weather is unsettled it is wise , therefore ,

to allow for such a contingency, and be prepared

to arrange matters so that a smaller stream o r lake

u can be s bstituted . A frequent reason for blank days lies in having

o n too wide a district t hunt . This mea s that

a are certain stre ms visited but once a season , and

o n no t ffi a single day each is su cient to insure sport .

a - A certain river is perh ps visited to day , and

hounds hit o ffa drag and carry it up-stream a long

way , until the hour is late , and their otter still

unfound . The next fixture is probably in another 89 TH E BOOK O F T H E OT TE R

h o n county, whereas if ounds were put to water the

o ff following morning at the place where they left ,

e a hunt would be practically a c rtainty . Again ,

o f are o f if a brace otters put down , and one them is hunted and eventually killed , a Visit to the same water o n the following day would result in the

f r survivor providing some pretty work o hounds . There is hardly an Otter Hunt in the kingdom but what attempts to cover more water in a season

o f than it can properly manage . The chances

“continuous good sport are o n this account

di fo r are excee ngly doubtful , unless rivers

ai o f frequently visited , and a f r percentage otters are killed , riparian owners , keepers , and others will

to refuse protect otters , and instead , go in for the killing business themselves . Hunting is in this country dependent upon the goodwill o f land

to o owners and tenants , who are as a rule only pleased to welcome hounds . If, however , the Hunt does not properly reduce the stock o ffoxes

o r t . otters , other me hods are then resorted to The

u more otters o r foxes yo kill in your district , the 90 OTT E R-H UN T I NG

fo r al more you will have , directly people re ise that you and your hounds mean business and are o ut ” for blood , they will leave it to you to do the killing , and confine their attentions to preserving your

r . s ar qua ry A mall district , regul ly hunted , will provide much better sport than a large one casually

o f attended to . The fixture card the average Otter

Hunt should show Where leave o ff much oftener than it does at present . In a small district a Hunt is much less dependent o n trains for mov

ing hounds from place to place , and there is far more opportunity to lie o ut overnight at some

or t farm other homestead , and hus continue

. hunting at the same place on the, following day

to the Harking back river , a great many people imagine that when hounds hit o ffa line away from the o water , and g full cry through a wood , across

o r open country, up some tiny streamlet , that they h are running riot . That ounds occasionally run

o not riot, m re especially the young entry, we do

o f for a moment deny, but when a pack entered hounds performs in the above manner , they are 9 1 T H E BOOK O F T H E OT T E R

not rioting , but running the line of a travelling

o f otter . The huntsman then , instead blowing his horn while the whippers - in rate and attempt to

o stop hounds , sh uld put his best leg foremost and

s o try to keep in touch , that if hounds check , after

o r covering perhaps a mile two , he will be there o r thereabouts and have a good idea what to do .

We have Vivid recollections Of a day o n which hounds hit o ff the line o f an otter that had stolen

- away from a rock holt without being seen o r tallied .

for She , it was a young bitch otter, left the main

am stre with a good start , and turned up a runner which lay in a deep , narrow valley . At the head o f this valley the otter turned left handed and

crossed over more than a mile o f open country

comprising the watershed . Descending the other

via o n side , she entered a stream a hanging covert

o ff the near bank . When hounds hit her line , they raced up the valley with evidently a screaming

fo r scent . At the top they hovered an instant ,

- then swept o n left handed over the hill . The

huntsman , who was convinced that they were run 9 2 OTT E R -H UN T I NG

ning riot , attempted to stop them , and succeeded

o f o f in getting hold some them , but the others

o n r went , and we could hea them speaking merrily

o f in the direction the stream in the valley below .

We passed the huntsman , blowing his horn , with

two o f a couple or hounds round him , and on asking t him wha was the matter , he said hounds were rioting . Seeing we did not believe him , he

o n r reluctantly followed , and to cut a long sto y short , hounds eventually killed their otter hand s o me l y, after dusting her up and down the stream

- o f e e for some three quarters an hour . We can s

’ o n t the expression hat huntsman s face yet , when hounds collared their otter, and he was obliged to acknowledge he had been in the wrong , while his hounds had been right .

Now the first lesson a huntsman , professional

o r t o a trus t his h o unds . amateur , has le rn is to If

’ he can t do this , he had better leave hunting alone ,

fo r b o n s and look another job . Once your u d

o u are properly entered , and y know their a individual tr its and idiosyncrasies , always trust 93 T H E BOOK ’ OF T H E O TT E R

the sa to what y y about it , and pay no attention to

o f an o f the utterances a sceptical field , m y whom

know little o r nothing about the science o fhunting . The line hounds are running may perhaps seem

o u a very unusual one , even to y , but if Rouser ,

and Thunder , Marksman , a few more Of your

trusted favou rites are voicing the fact that an otter

is in front of them , then you can bet your life it

so o is , and y ur job is to keep in touch with them if possible . Always remember that an otter may

be found anywhere , and may do anything once he

is afoot or afl o at . The only certain thing about

him is his variability . You will learn something

o ut new about him every day you go with hounds ,

o u r and if y store up the info mation thus obtained ,

it will come in mighty useful o n many a future occasion .

The Master who hunts his o wn h o unds

should study the habits o f otters in winter as well

- as in summer . After a prolonged snow fall a visit to o r o f one other his rivers , lakes , etc . , will afford a variety of useful information regarding the where 94

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

will hear much about otters and their doings , a

o f great deal which information , however , he will

o take with the pr verbial pinch o f salt . Half the

a people you meet , even those who live ne r rivers , have never seen an otter , although there are , of

to course , certain individuals whose information is

d o n . are be epended These few and far between ,

u however, and the wise Master will tr st to his own

o f h o f powers observation , rather t an to reports

Out hypothetical otters , which in the end turn to have been black cats , or some other animals seen near the water at dusk .

o ur Harking back to hunting , however, hounds have marked their otter in his holt in a root o r some

other retreat, and the next job is to evict him .

Hounds are called o ffand taken back o ut o f sight

o n in a nearby field , and the terriers come the

Vi o r . c V scene engeance is sent in , and very

so o n there are sounds underground betokening

“ ’ something doing . The barking ceases for a

o ut moment , and then a dark brown object glides

through the tangled roots , there is a slight splash , 96 O TT E R -H U N T I NG and a long chain o f bubbles as the otter takes to

- the river . A shrill tally ho ! brings hounds pell

o n . mell to the scene of action , and the hunt is

I o so t all s unds very easy, and sometimes is , but on or other occasions the otter refuses to bolt , the

sufli cie nt s so terriers cannot bring pres ure to bear, there is nothing for it but send to the nearest farm

. are house for tools Spades , pick , and crowbar soon on the spot, and there may then ensue some strenuous digging , before the terriers are located , and finally the otter . Occasionally , when the

r o r l o r te riers are sent in , a rabbit rabbits may bo t, even as has happened before now, a fox . Then is the time you are likely to hear subdued remarks from sceptical members o f your field . Take no

f a o notice o that . Your hounds s y their tter is there , believe them , no matter how many rabbits appear . Otters lie very close at times , often till

o n you dig right up to them , and such an occasion you will have the laugh o n the doubting V Thomases , when you pull little terrier engeance o ut by the stern , and your otter takes to the river . 97 G TH E BOOK OF T H E OTT E R

can If a terrier get behind his otter, he will gener

to ally persuade the quarry bolt , but if the otter

- -sac backs up into a cul de , the dog is obliged to

o face him in fr nt , and if the terrier is a real

sticker he will hold his otter there until the diggers work down to the spot .

Otters will lie up in rabbit burrows , drains , tree

or roots , and sometimes in fox badger earths .

Rock - holts are al so favourite places o n the north

- country rivers . Where there are several side drains

o ff branching a main drain , it is often difficult for the

- . to o terriers to locate their otter Some rock holts , ,

to are practically impregnable , and the same applies many a big head of earths in covert . Occasionally an otter may be persuaded to bolt when other m o f eans have failed , by getting a number people

o f so to jump on top the holt , the party doing in

o r are unison . When digging terrier operations

o n going , someone should be stationed where they can keep watch for the otter bolting . If the

o ut quarry can slip under water, he may get away

out i . undetected , unless a bright look s kept 98

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R more sport than when constantly shifting their positions . After he has been hunted for some t e it im , the otter will begin to show himself, and is then perfectly legitimate for the watcher to tally-ho

‘

. is if he sees the otter Unless , however , he sure

is O that it the tter, he had best keep silent . A

o r salmon in rapid water, a moorhen crossing a

has o n pool , often deceived a watcher the bank ,

therefore make sure before tallying . Also , never tally because someone else says he has seen the

s e e . otter , it yourself first It may be necessary to send some of the fie ld to form a stickle across

o r . the shallows , above below the scene of action

o ut These people must keep a sharp look , watching the water carefully . If they do their work properly, the otter should not get past them without being seen . If the hunt gradually works u - o n p stream , the people the lower stickle should

. s a not be forgotten Some signal , y a few notes o n o the whistle , should be given in rder to let them know that they are at liberty to leave their posts .

I or a n rapid , deep water, n otter will often pass 1 00 O TT E R -H U N T I NG

I O I T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

n an experie ced hunter without being tallied , particularly if it is moving close to the farther

o n bank . The angle at which the light falls the water often makes it extremely diffi cult to detect an otter as it passes . After being hunted for some

o f length time , the otter shows himself more and more frequently . He may vary the water work

n o r by making an excursion overla d , running the

o f length a nearby wood . Perhaps he takes

s . refuge in a holt , and is then bolted by the terrier

Anyway, if things go right, the time comes when

o n he can do no more , and he dies fighting the

o n . shallows , leaving his mark nearly every hound a The huntsman at last gets the pack to le ve him ,

o ff not using a whip , but pushing hounds with

knees , hands , and pole , after which he slips the carcass under water for a minute or two until he

recovers his wind , and then carries it ashore .

s There it is weighed , ma k , pole , and pads are

severed , the carcass is slit up , and tossed to the

eagerly expectant pack . Hi , worry , worry ,

” “ ” - ! . worry, Who whoop tear him and eat him 1 02

OTT E R -H U N T I NG

After blowing the rattle , and cheering hounds to keep up the excitement, the various trophies are

’ and distributed , one s thoughts then turn in the direction o f certain bottles which are snugly

’ reposing in a friend s car o n the nearest highway .

o r Early, late in the season , when the weather

o is boisterous and the water c ld , it pays to hold up

o f v a few couples hounds , reser ing them until the working pack has had about enough of it . Then

o at the right m ment, throw in your reserves and make a quick finish . This plan is especially

applicable to lake hunting , when hounds are

continually swimming in deep water .

o n o r When hounds are a drag , have put down their otter, the huntsman should encourage them ,

cheering them o n to any particular hound which has made a hit, and the same when they mark

. no solidly at a root There is need to be noisy,

for but hounds work all the better encouragement , and a bit o f excitement at a b o lt teaches young

To s hounds to mark their otter . make a uccess o f - o r o o f fo r otter hunting , any ther kind hunting 1 03 T H E BOO K OF T H E OT T E R

that matter , a man must use his brains , and to some extent call o n his powers of imagination .

A chapter o n hunting is hardly complete without

o f a some mention that elusive mystery c lled scent , s o a few words will be devoted to it here . You get good and bad scenting d ays in otter-hunting

o u do o r just as y when hunting fox hare , but the ch as e of the otter has the advantage o f being

conducted both on land and water , and if scent is

o n bad the latter , it may be quite the reverse if

firm your otter takes to terra a . Sometimes it is

o n good both , though it may happen that an otter which has been hustled about the woods or across country apparently gives o ff little scent when he

o r o ne returns to the water . A bitch otter in cub , with a young family, appears to often give off little or no scent, and where hunting takes place o n o il o r a river polluted by , other foreign matter , scent is generally conspicuous by

r o o its absence . Scent va ies t at different times f o . sun day In the early morning, before the has dispelled the dew, it is generally good , but dies 1 04

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

-da for the same purpose before to y. Both otters and foxes have o n occasion been bolted from rabbit

burrows during ferreting operations . In some countries artificial drains o r holts have been

o f constructed for the use otters , but there is usually a good deal o funcertainty as to whether the otters

o l will take to such abodes . Where d drains run

a long way into the land , with possibly a number o f branch drains , it is often wise to place iron gratings at some distance from the mouth , in order to facilitate matters when it comes to bolting an

- otter . As the great charm about otter hunting is

artificialit made o r its freedom from y, holts drains

need hardly be encouraged , except perhaps in extreme cases where there is no suitable lying-up

o place for otters over a long stretch fwater . n i When hunting hou ds , the Master w ll be

- in assisted in the field by two whippers , which may

o f a and . consist the paid kennelm n , an amateur Their job is to keep hounds in check when

necessary , prevent rioting , if any , and keep in touch with the pack Should hounds go o ff across 1 06 OTT E R -H U N T I NG

country with a screaming scent . Taking it for

granted that the paid hand knows his job , the

amateur should be equally proficient . H e must

o f keep a keen look out as he goes for signs otters ,

. n as well as hidden drains , etc , and he must k ow the names o f all the hounds and their individual

so h idiosyncrasies , as to tell instantly if t ey are

s inclined to riot , or they how an inclination to mark

o r . at roots , take a line away from the river

-in Speaking broadly, the whippers prevent hounds going too fast and outpacing the Master and the

field , but it Should be remembered that hounds can

to o mu ch so be kept in check , and by doing they are balked in their desire to hunt , as well as drive o n fox o r when scenting conditions are good . In

’ a i h re hunting, the huntsman s place is w th his

o r hounds , whether they are drawing running, and there appears to be no good reason why an otter huntsman should not get a move o n when his

o r hounds push ahead on a hot drag, drive along a cross country . It is quite as necessary to run , and

often run hard , with otterhounds , as to ride hard 1 07 T H E BO O K O F TH E O TT E R

t wi h foxhounds , and the huntsman who takes his o wn time whilst his whipper- in is bursting himself

r across count y is surely lacking in keenness .

Although otter -hunting does not call for as much quickness o n the part o f the huntsman as fox

se e hunting , we still must confess we like to a huntsman o f otterhounds Show some agility when

r his hounds run fast . This particula ly applies to

n so hu ting in the north , where otters often cross

o f steep watersheds . A great deal valuable time

is frequently lost , simply because the huntsman

o f n prefers to take his own time , instead attempti g to keep in close touch with hounds , and thus be o n the spot Should they momentarily require his

far he assistance . As as t field are concerned , it is their o wn fault if they are left behind when hounds

. t o n run When ravelling with hounds the highway ,

-in however , the huntsman and whippers should go at a reasonable pace , so as to give the field a chance

particularly the ladies— to be there when hounds are put to water . Racing ahead with hounds on the roads gets the pack into the habit o f pushing 1 08

TH E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

e no t kne s and thorns do associate well together , while breeches o f the semi -riding type are too

-fi tin t . o r tight g, and retain water Boots shoes

should be well nailed to prevent slipping ,

- preferably with soft , wrought iron hobs , which get

n a better grip o rocks than steel nails . An iron shod pole o f ash o r hazel— the latter is light yet strong— is ne cessary for crossing deep o r swift water , and in some districts as an aid to jumping wide ditches and open drains . A pole shod with a double - pronged spike is less liable to slip than o ne L armed with a single spike . ikewise a pole cut from the growing tree o r sapling looks more

o ne workmanlike than a made , ornamented with a fancy metal head o r other embellishment . With

o ne regard to the whip , for use by Hunt officials ,

to fo r with a short lash is be preferred , it can be far more easily cracked when the user is standing

- in water than a long lashed affair .

The huntsman who cannot blow an ordinary horn without unnecessary discords will be well

- b e advised to secure a reed horn . Every call can 1 1 0 OTT E R -H U N T I NG

o n sounded this , with the exception of that to ” call hounds away , and for this quite a good

substitute can be blown . When using the horn , he should employ distinct calls , then both hounds and field know what he means . Some huntsmen

blow the same note all day long , and hounds take

o n no heed of it , while the monotonous sound gets

o f the nerves the field .

Nowadays the otter- hunting season extends from

r April to September , but in the fourteenth centu y

a it l sted from February to June .

I I I C HAPT E R IV

HOUNDS AND TERRIERS

THE average otterhound pack to -day is usually

o f - b ounds and a composed foxhounds , cross bred ,

o f - few couples pure , rough coated otterhounds .

In the o ld days the latter predominated in most

o f packs , and it is only late years that the foxhound

o f L u ra has come to the fore in the pursuit t .

The origin o f the rough -coated hound is more o r less shrouded in mystery , but it is pretty safe to say that he is closely related to the bloodhound . If true to type he possesses many of the blood

’ hound s characteristics , including the long pen dulo us - ears , the deep set eye showing the haw, and the black and tan colour which so often pre do min

o f ates . The rough coat was gained by a cross

some sort , but it is impossible to say with certainty ' 1 1 2

TH E BOOK O F T H E OTTE R

o f v me n game , and they (that) ser e for all game c all them harriers . And every hound that hath that courage will come to be a harrier by nature ” with little making . b H arrier was in those days spelt eyrer, and it was not until after the sixteenth century that the modern spelling came into vogue . It was prob

- h e rian ably derived from the Anglo Saxon , to Al harry o r disturb . In the Boke of St bans it says that the hart , the buck , and the boar should be started by a limer , and that all other bestes that huntyd shall be sought for and found by

3) Ratches so free Thus it appears that all beasts

- that were enchased were moved by a lime hound , while those that were hunted up were found by

- braches . The otter hunting illustration in the

o f five one o f Master Game shows hounds ,

to which is on leash , and appears be a limer . The

otter was certainly not enchased in those days ,

being looked upon as vermin , yet as the picture shows a limer at work , it is possible that lime hounds were sometimes used for other game than 1 1 4 HOU N D S AN D T E RRI E RS

the recognised beasts of chase . The hound shown

- swimming the otter is bloodhound like , while two

smaller hounds appear to have broken coats . In the fourteenth century the otter and various other

creatures , such as the rabbit, fox , wild cat , etc . ,

were hunted by hiss hunte rs (fur hunters) fo r

no o f their skins , and doubt the smaller breed

hounds then known as he yre rs were employed in

their capture .

Coming down to modern times , there are , as far

as we are aware , but two existing otterhound packs

o f - entirely composed pure , rough coated otter

hounds . All other establishments employ mixed

- e packs . Cross br d hounds are usually the result

o fa union between a pure otterh o und bitch and a

foxhound . The majority o ffoxhounds which find their way to the otterhound kennels have been

- o r drafted for over height , age , faults . They are

often presented to the o r he buys them at

lo w a figure . Having purchased o r otherwise got

f o u together su ficient hounds to make a start , y can

o ut gradually weed them , retaining the be st 1 1 5 T H E BOOK O F T H E OT T E R

workers for future bree ding operations . It is perhaps unnecessary to state that you must have

o r o f a couple two entered hounds to begin with ,

o otherwise y u are likely to walk as far as the Rev .

n Jack Russell did before you fi d an otter . As

- regards cross bred hounds , the first cross may be

o capital workers , but it is doubtful if much go d comes from breeding from them .

se e o f One all shapes,l makes , and sizes rough hounds in the various packs , but the best bred ones

-two to are big, upstanding animals , from twenty

- o r twenty four more inches in height . Speaking

o ur from own experience , we have found the majority o frough h ounds to be much more clumsy

to o and less active than foxhounds . Their feet, ,

to are often inclined be open and flat , and they lack the heart and stamina o f the foxhound . There are , of course , exceptions , and we have come across rough hounds that were capital workers , but take them all round they are too big and

o n clumsy, at any rate for work rough , rocky

s re m . fe t a s Despite their rough jackets , they su f r 1 1 6

HOU N D S AN D T E RRI E R S from the effects o f long immersion in water far

o more than the foxhound , wh se short, smooth coat is dry after a shake or two . In addition they are not such good doers as the foxhound , and require more attention after hunting . They are also apt

of to be quarrelsome in kennel . Many them

fine possess extremely noses , and can speak to a

o r two old line a day , but this is of no practical

I IS I to help in hunting , because t mpossible drag up to an otter that has been s o long gone . They swim well , and often draw well when swimming , but the foxhound is quite their equal in this respect . In our experience the hound that can

Wind his otter across th e stream and go straight to him is more often a foxhound than a rough hound .

to o r The foxhound , , is usually a better ma ker

once he has entered properly , and when it comes to

t holding and killing an o ter , the rough hound

cannot compare with him . Across country , too ,

and when an otter runs through covert , the fox

’ hound s dash and drive at once put him in the 1 1 7 TH E BOOK OF T H E OT T ER

. has lead The rough hound a resonant, musical

voice , and a picturesque appearance , but taking

wo rkin him all round , from a solely g point of View,

15 I he , n our humble opinion , inferior to the fox

o n hound , particularly rough , rocky rivers , where a

- o f advan light built , active type hound shows to tage . Custom ordains that hounds for otter hunting should be rough jacketed , and by employ ing cross - bred o r rough Welsh foxhounds you get the rough coat , without the undesirable qualities found in the pure otterhounds . The latter Show to the best advantage in low

r lying count y, where the rivers are slow running , d and the going easy . In these ays , when meets

is are late and time valuable , pure otterhounds with their tender noses dwell and revel o n the drag

o n instead of pushing forward . The foxhound , the

o n other hand , may feather a stale line , but he will not as a rule open unless the drag is fairly fresh .

o u When he does throw his tongue , y can con

fide ntl h y cheer the ot ers to him , knowing that your otter is not so very far in front . Although 1 1 8

TH E BOOK O F T H E O TT E R

and tion to dwell revel in the scent , and when this happens it is a sign that their utility is coming to an end . I f possible always get hold of foxhounds which throw their tongues freely , and have nothing whatever to do with a mute

o n hound . However closely you keep an eye

o r t e t o n the latter , he will sooner la er g away ” own and o f his , be the means spoiling more than one good hunt . No matter how good a mute

his o f hound is in work , get rid him , for unless he lets you know what he is doing he is useless to

L o n o u . y ikewise , never any consideration be

tempted to breed from a mute hound . Rough otterhounds cannot stand punishment like the

foxhound , and will howl and kick up a dreadful

o r . racket if hurt , hit with the whip for some fault

It is during the course o f a long hunt in heavy

or chilly water that the average rough o tte rh oiI n d

out sit will pull and shivering on the bank , while

the foxhounds are keeping their otter on the move .

o ur In experience , the foxhound is a much better

- finde r fresh than the pure otterhound , and it is 1 20 HOU N D S AND T E RRI E RS the hounds good at fresh - finding and keeping their otter going that do most towards bringing

o f the quarry to hand . At the end a long day, too , the cross - breds and foxhounds will return t o

m o f kennels with their ste s up , while many the

rough sort exhibit a very depressed appearance . They never seem to pick their feet up like a

shuflie foxhound , but about in an ungainly

fashion . When it comes to killing an otter , the

his o wn foxhound has it all way . Time and

again we have seen him seize and hold a big otter ,

often shaking his quarry like a fox . The rough

hound often fails in this respect , for he has not

e the courag to make him a good seizer and killer . A foxhound which comes to the otterhound

kennels with the re putation o f being a good marker nearly always keeps up his fame in the

same way when entered to otter . Good marking

are ns o f hounds the mai tay any pack . As far

as brains are concerned the foxhound appears to

make more use o f his grey matter than the

rough hound , and shows more initiative and 1 2 1 THE BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

i . are ndividuality His pace and activity , too ,

o f o f beyond question , both which qualities are

the greatest assistance when swimming an otter ,

and more particularly when hunting o ne across

or I country through extensive coverts . t is the

active hounds which score so often o n rough and

for rocky rivers , drive and pace are an occasion

- as fox- quite as necessary in otter hunting hunting . The cross between foxhound and rough otter hound possesses many o f the attributes o f the former , including a rough j acket , and thus is

fL tra admirably fitted for the pursuit o u .

h n o f Turning to Welsh ou ds , some which have rough , and others smooth coats , we find a breed

‘ - admirably suited to both fox and otter hunting .

o r so Many Welsh hounds are white nearly , while

- — others are the o ld black and tan colour . The

English foxhound o f standard type is bigger and has more substance than the Welsh hound , but the latter excels in nose and tongue , and can stand any amount o f hard work in rough country . — o ur to o articu In experience , , Welsh hounds p 1 2 2

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

1 8 2 1 8 1 kept a pack from 9 to 7 , we find an illustration o f the o ld Lancashire harrier o r

- S o f foumart hound . The picture hows a couple

- rough haired hounds in full cry, which appear a

- - medium sized , light built , active type ; more suggestive o f the rough Welsh foxhound than L the modern otterhound . Mr omax used these

- foumart hounds in crossing with his otterhounds .

o f In another illustration , showing some the pack

1 8 o f in 3 5 , the type hound appears to be lighter

- built and more active looking than the big ,

- present day rough otterhound . The tendency with English foxhounds has been to breed them much bigger than was the case in former years , and the same apparently

applies to the rough otterhound . Certainly a tall hound can wade where a smaller hound is obliged to - swim , but a medium sized , active type is less

fo r o n clumsy , and more fitted work rocky streams than the heavy hounds now seen in most packs .

o f From a purely working point View, a pack

o f - composed English , Welsh , and fell foxhounds 1 24 HOU N D S AN D T E RRI E RS

would be very hard to beat . By j udicious

crossing , an ideal pack could be bred , retaining to a great extent the rough coat o f the Welsh hound , if that was thought indispensable to the appearance o f the pack . Although draft foxhounds are generally used

o r for otter hunting , it pays to get hold of a bitch

so two and breed from them . By doing you can gradually get together a pack composed of hounds

o f the desired sort , and if you are lucky you may

be able to hunt fox with them in the winter , and thus keep hounds in condition for their summer work . Hounds , like human beings , get very fed

u p with continual road exercise , therefore a bit

o f winter hunting appeals to them far more than

o f the dull routine exercise walks . Next in importance to the hounds are the

for terriers , without their help it would be

t o impossible ej ect an otter from his holt . The most important quality in a terrier is gameness ,

h ow for no matter well built he is , if he has not the courage t o go below ground and stay with 1 2 5 TH E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

o r his otter until the latter bolts , the diggers

t no . unearth him , he is worth his keep Provided bi he is thoroughly game , and not too g, it matters

not how a terrier is bred . He is there to work ,

no t . and to be looked at Roughly speaking , a

t terrier o f about 1 4 lb . weight will be suited o

- otter hunting . As , apart from bolting otters , he will not be called upon to do' any great amount o f travelling over rough country, short legs are

F o r no great drawback to him . all that , however ,

t o se e o f we like a terrier with a fair length leg ,

for there are certain holts , particularly amongst rocks , where an otter can command the upper

- r position , and a short legged ter ier is much

handicapped when trying to get at him . A terrier should have a fair head and jaw, and he should be as narrow in front as is compatible with l adequate heart and ung room . A narrow fronted dog can always get into a smaller place

- o ne than a broad chested , even if he is longer

n o the leg . A terrier that will lie up close to an otter and move him with his tongue is preferable 1 26

TH E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

is an otter found and put down by the terriers .

.b e Again , coloured terriers running loose may

o r killed badly mauled by hounds , when the latter are hard at their otter .

o f 1 2 1 K During the season 9 , with the . and we had two coloured terriers worried by

o ne o f hounds , which recovered but the other T . . he died the same night otter , which was getting beat , took to land , and hounds collared him as he left the water , the terriers being seized by some o f the pack in mistake for their quarry .

Had those terriers been in the couples at the time , they would have been saved . It is really safest to lead the terriers until they are wanted , and after bolting their otter they should be got

o f hold again as soon as possible . The same

a when hounds are worrying their otter , lways pick

o f up the terriers if any them are loose .

t In order hat hounds shall keep fit and well , they must receive proper attention in the kennel . Less flesh is needed for feeding otterhounds

x do than fo hounds , because they their work in 1 28 HOUN D S AND T E RRI E RS

o f summer, and both the season the year and the work itself do not make so great a call on their

o f powers as does the chase the fox in winter .

a During the off se son, otterhounds should be

o r t exercised for two hree hours daily , and as the hunting season approaches the exercise can

o f be gradually lengthened . With a pack cross

o r 18 bred , Welsh , English foxhounds , it possible

I wmte r to hunt otters in summer and fox n , and il where this can be done , hounds w l , of course ,

f - f x keep perfectly fit . In the case o the fell o hounds , those hunting otter in summer return to

wn fo r - their o kennels the winter fox catching .

As far as food is concerned , this should always

be given thick , rather than soft and sloppy .

3 Hounds splash Slop into their eyes , and get

o f the particles it up their nostrils , to detriment o f both sight and olfactory powers . On the return from hunting , cuts and bruises should be

’ attended to , and thorns , etc . , extracted . Hounds

coats should also be brushed , and burrs , etc . , removed . Rough hounds require more looking 1 2 9 I T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

- after in this respect than smooth coated ones .

The huntsman should se e that his hounds are fed and properly bedded down before he attends to his o wn wants . If hounds look well and hunt

o u well , y can rest assured that your huntsman o r feeder is paying proper attention to the pack

. no t in kennel As regards kennels , these need

o f be an expensive nature , but the drainage and

general sanitation mus t be adequate if hounds

are to keep fit . Wherever waste matter is

present , either in the boiling house , feeding

o r r place , ya ds , there will disease germs gather ,

and complaints amongst hounds will be fo r ever

ut l breaking o . The o d ad age Cleanliness is next to godliness applies as much to hounds and their kennels as it does to human beings

and their houses .

S ome huntsmen are apt to let hounds get ve ry

o ut much of condition during the winter months ,

o f instead exercising regularly, which means that

o n the approach of the hunting season all sorts

o f physic is used in an attempt to ge t them fit 1 30

CHAPT E R V

R EMINI SCENCES

THER E are very few Masters in the country who

hunt fox in winter and otter in summer with the

same hounds , and fewer still we imagine who have killed an otter and a fox o n the same day . The latter feat was performed by the Master o f the

South Tetcott, whose hounds found and killed an

o n otter the River Othery, after which they unkennelled a fox cub , and after rattling him about

a bit , eventually brought him to hand .

One o fthe few packs hunting both fox and otter

Ynsfo r is the , a private pack owned by Major

ar Evan Jones . His country lies in C narvon and

Merioneth , Snowdon and the adjoining mountains lying within its borders . The Master is his own

o n huntsman , and hounds are followed foot , owing 1 3 2 RE M IN I SCE N CE S

to the precipitous nature of the country . The

o f pack is composed the old Welsh breed , some

o f o ld rough and some smooth , with many the

- - black and tan colour amongst them . These

’ hounds have been in Major J o ne s s family since

1 6 7 5 .

Probably few people have been o ut with both

o n foxhounds and otterhounds the same day , but we can plead guilty to having accomplished this feat Before the were disbanded ,

o ne hounds met very early morning , but failed

and to get an otter afloat , when they returned to kennels we went o ff and joined the Coniston

oxho unds saw a F , and eventually Reyn rd accounted for .

A great many people appear to have a rooted

- idea that an otter is a slow moving , clumsy creature ,

o f which never leaves the Vicinity water . Such an

to s a o f assumption is , y the least it, inaccurate , as

who anyone can easily testify , particularly those have done much otter-hunting on the rocky rivers of the north . I n a previous chapter we have I 33 THE BO O K O F THE OTT E R

mentioned a hunt during which the otter crossed a

tO ' watershed , and this brings mind a seven and a ’ K . o n half hours hunt by the and D . O . H . the

L 1 River une in the season o f 1 9 2 . The otter was lying rough in a hanging wood overlooking the

- river, and was found by a little fell foxhound named Cragsman , belonging to the Ullswater pack .

o n o ur After some up and down work the river ,

o n otter stole away land , and crossed some fields

to a small stream which runs between steep banks .

There was a screaming scent , and hounds fairly

flew in pursuit . The otter ran the small stream

o f and nearly to the top the ghyll , then turned

- came back . In a rock bound pool he lay low, but hounds were soon at him again . The pool lay

between smooth and slippery walls of rock , and at

a . first the otter b rely showed his nose Suddenly ,

— however , he made a terrific spring his hind legs

no doubt getting purchase o n a ledge below the

surface o f the water— and all but got clear o fthe

o n pool . He hung for a brief instant the rock

o f wall , making the picture a lifetime for anyone 1 34

T H E BO O K O F T H E OT T E R

him took to the wood . Hounds drove round it, and he once more took the water . Here he entered a long but not very deep pool , and hounds w I swam him do n t , then he turned and hounds

o r no o n checked . There was little cover the

o ut W banks , but he got ithout being seen , the first warning we had o f his dep arture being given by

b it o ff a young , rough hound which his line in the

o u wood . This time he ran straight t to the top of

- the covert, turned left handed and crossed the open

fields for more than a mile , ! ust beating hounds

o f to a drain , the grating which had been moved , where he got in and was eventually left . We viewed this otter several times at close

r 0 . qua ters , and estimated his weight at nearer 3 lb

2 th an 5 lb . He showed extraordinary running powers and

fo r so activity large an otter , and it was hard luck o n hounds that he beat them .

There was a screaming scent on land , but when he took the water for the last time , hounds had 1 36 RE M I N I SCE N C E S

some diffi culty in owning the wash . That otter would most certainly have convinced anyone who

’ was sceptical o f L utra s activity and running powers . We have already mentioned the fondness that

— — otters have particularly in Canada for sliding .

a When engaged in this musement , they tuck their

o n forelegs in , and toboggan down the bank their stomachs . This season whilst the Conis

oxhounds o n ton F were hunting the fells , a couple and a half o f hounds ran a fox in the direction o f an e arth o n which some o fthe field were standing .

o ut About the same time , an otter suddenly ran from some rocks near the main earth , and after

going some distance , tucked in its head and fore

and t ro lle d . legs , ac ually some yards downhill

We were on the opposite side o f the valley at the time , but a very keen and experienced fox and otter

hunter who was there , and witnessed the incident , said that he had never seen anything like it before

in his life . A name to conjure with in the annals of Lake 1 37 THE BOO K O F THE OT T E R land otter- hunting is that o f the late Bobby K . o n Troughton He was born Fellside , endal , in

1 8 6 t 3 . In the early eighties he purchased hree

” Lo nde s hounds , Raleigh , Ragman , and

borough , and with these three hounds and a

o f r couple terriers he began to hunt the local rive s .

th e o f Having thus formed nucleus a pack , he

gradually added to it and improved it , until the

late Mr Courtenay Tracy , said there

’ was not another pack like it in England . Bobby s lb do 2 . heaviest otter was a big g weighing 3 , and

in L o f was killed Rydal ake . One his most famous

’ hunts took place In Lever s “Water o n the Coniston m a . . th e fells . Hounds met at 5 at foot of Yewdale

k ho t o ut Beck, and stri ing a drag at once , went

o f towards the hills . Near the edge the tarn they

he put their otter down , and at once took to the

F o r and water . nine hours he kept hounds going ,

it was no t until some o fthe field volunteered to go to Coniston for a boat— no small undertaking

that Bobby was able to get afloat himself , and give

his hounds a helping hand . At long last the otter 1 38

A W H O V I N G OF F To R . O . . K ! D . . M D

Lees B lack ool R F . (Co pyri ght by , p )

o N A K W D M . GO I N G To TH E ME ET B Y FE RR Y O L E I N E R E RE

1 8 To face p . (Photo by R RE M IN I SCE N CE S

attempted to land , and hounds collared him , thus

earning their reward .

o ne o f At time in the north , packs rough hounds

fo r i were kept hunt ng otter , marten , and foumart .

One o fthe last o fthese packs to hunt in the Lake

the District belonged to late Mr Fleming Green ,

o f a . Gr smere Anthony Chapman , who was his huntsman , and later hunted the Windermere

fo r a a Harriers m ny seasons , is still h le and hearty,

and delights in a crack about old times . Another well known Master in the north was the

L o f l late Mr James omax , Clayton Ha l , Great L Harwood , ancashire . His Otter-hunting Diary contains an account

o f 1 8 2 1 8 1 and the sport he enjoyed from 9 to 7 , is L most interesting reading . ike Bobby Troughton

in later years , he bred a very perfect pack of

- 1 8 1 hounds o f the rough coated type . In 7

o ut rabies unfortunately broke in his kennels ,

necessitating the destruction o fall but three o fthe

b un s . o d Being himself advanced in years , he

made no attempt to start a new pack , despite the I S9 THE B OOK O F THE OTT E R

f o f o ne many o fers hounds he received , and cannot h d blame him . By the time he a got together

o ne another pack as good as the he had lost , he would as he said himself h ave been too o ld to follow L and enjoy the sport . Mr omax always met very m a . early in the morning , often as soon as 3 . He

o n L and showed wonderful sport Ribble , une ,

o ld Who many other rivers , and men can remember

o f hunting with him , speak in glowing terms the

o ne great hunts they enjoyed with his pack . In respect Mr Lomax differed fro m present day

i e . o f Masters , . , in the practice sacking otters

and removing them to more huntable waters . I There are n the diary, several instances recorded o f so such otters having died , that the practice

o ne was not a profitable .

The most famous otter - hunter Scotland has ever

o fMurra fie ld seen was the late Mr Waldron Hill , y

House , near Edinburgh .

When quite a young man he contracted

o l b t t d . consumption , and was y his doctors hat he had not long to live . Nothing daunted , however , 1 40

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

started . With him the southern hound has only

o f failed from lack constitution , which is injured by to o much swimming .

r o f Mr Hill used te riers Welsh breed , which he

o t o f s g from the kennels Mr Ramsay William ,

’ after the latter s death . These terriers weighed

- 1 lh . about 5 , and were bred as flat sided as possible to enable them to squeeze into narrow

o o n places . They were fairly l ng the leg , and i were used for bolt ng fox , otter , marten , and

’ foumart . Mr Hill s principal river was the Tyne ,

flowing through H addingtonshire . Speaking o f

u E sk Th e D ruid ! L the So th , says ast August it

o f was the scene a very remarkable run , as the otter only touched the water twice for a few

o f o r minutes throughout a run eight nine miles , and was eventually pulled d own in the he art o fone ” o f the East Lothian fox-whins Regarding a

’ Th e D ruid ! long drag with Mr Hill s hounds , says

’ In 62 the hounds hit upon o ne at the Clutb y

n D am reservoir o the north side of the Pentlands , and hunte d him through the sheep-drains right 1 4 2 RE M I N I SCE NCE S

th e over the Pentlands , down to reservoir at St

’ C atherine s . He had gone through it on the north

G le nco rn side , and from there down the burn , L nearly to the North Esk . eaving this for another k burn across the country, he headed bac to the

’ r o n o f rese voir at St Catherine s , where , account

to o . the water being high , he could not be moved This otter must have travelled nearly twenty miles

for h during the night , and it was well Mr Hill t at

his terriers were long- legged and that he himself

is o r o r always in condition summer winter, he

would have seen nothing of the fun o n that hot

’3 and very wet September morning . We wonder

how far the members o f a modern o tter-hunting

o n field would get , if asked to follow hounds a hot

’ d ! fo r rag for twenty miles Not far we ll warrant ,

m o st o f them would swear that hounds were o n a

fox . People who incautiously tail an otter are very

to Th e D ruid apt get bitten , and regarding this

says ! In all these forays Mr Hill has never go t

a en h a o he vily bitt imself ; but many years g , when 1 43 T H E BOOK O F TH E OTT E R

o n Ke nv A he was hunting the y near bergavenny , the otter came o ut of the water just before it was killed , made straight at the whip , who was a few

o ff him the yards his master , shook savagely by trousers , and then passed on .

We have heard people s ay that an otter makes no splash when diving or otherwise entering the water . Certainly at times he does not make much o f a disturbance , for his sinuous body is built for swimming, but when playing in the water, or when

o n o ne hunted , he splashes quite a lot . We were occasion watching the mouth o fa drain on the river

L . une , in which the terriers were baiting an otter

o f ro o f o In front this drain was a w will w trees .

Standing quietly a yard o r so to o ne side o f the drain entrance we at last saw the otter show him

at f self . He stood the drain mouth sni fing the air , the muscles working his thick whiskers , giving his face a very puffed out appe arance . Hearing o r seeing some o fthe field o n the opposite bank of the river he turned round and went back up the

drain . A fairly long interval elapsed , and we 1 44

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

terriers had bolted him in the field , and we , of

f w s o a . course , were unaware what happening

This otter finally emerged at the drain mouth , but unlike his predecessor, took the water quietly below the willow trees .

’ ’ In Walton s description o f a morning s sport

’ - Swe e tli s- o ne with Mr Sadler s Otter dogs , p of the hounds— brings the carcass o f the otter to

33 o n Venator . We have several occasions seen

- a hound seize and carry a dead beat otter ashore .

f 1 2 1 This is easily done in the case o a lb . or 4 lb .

to otter , but it is a different matter for a hound

do . handle a big, fighting g otter When a hunted

o n o f otter is floating top the water , he often makes a considerable splash if he dives in a hurry .

Although perhaps not so go Od a climber as some other members of the weasel family, the otter is no slouch at negotiating steep , rocky ghylls, and can scramble about in a wonderful manner . It seems rather hard to account for the fact that in some

o f - seasons hounds kill a majority dog otters , while i n other seasons the total is chiefly made up o f 1 46 RE M INI SCE N CE S

bitches . Where you find a bitch otter , there is

o r s o o r d often a dog within a mile , either up own

stream ; and no doubt the two o f them keep that

p articular stretch o f water free from other lutrine

intruders . Scent and its vagaries will no doubt always be a

o w mysterious problem . H often have we seen hounds able to hunt quite well amongst the under

an o f growth , yet when they reached open expanse

o f sand where the seal an otter was plainly visible , they have crossed it without a single hound speak f ing . An instance o this comes to mind during the

o f 1 2 1 season 9 , when hounds ran well across

- country, whereas on a sand bank , literally padded

flat with otter tracks , never a hound opened . Although hounds may sometimes travel a long way upstream without touching a drag, that does

o u not always signify that y will not find . An instance o f this comes to mind when we were

- o hunting a small hill stream . H unds had covered

o f o f some miles water without a sign a drag , and the field was becoming rather discouraged, when I 47 T H E BOOK OF T H E OTT E R

r suddenly the pack opened in no uncertain manne , an d began tearing at a holt on the bank . While

the o tter d hounds were thus occupied , bolte and

nd went downstream , a after a short hunt was

fo r r o accounted . Until eaching the sp t where

o r r hounds marked , there was little no lying g ound , and seeing that there was also no up- stream drag it pointed to the fact that o ur otter had travelled over a neighbouring watershed , and had entered the holt o n his journey downstream . It is always well to remember that an otter may be fo und any where , and because there happens to be no drag upstream that does not mean to s ay that yo u may no t find when you reach the head waters . Regarding the agility and jumping powers of otters we remember hounds finding an otter lying

o f rough , which , after a certain amount dusting

t a up and down s re m , jumped a wall into a road ,

car passed under a motor standing there , and went L over another wall into the field beyond . eaving the field it scaled a third wall before returning to

o e the water . Eventually it to k to some extens iv 1 48

T H E BOOK O F T H E OTT E R

the dog hung about in plain sight under a bridge ,

and rem ained there until the bitch was accounted

f . for, after which he himself su fered the same fate

Otter-hunting is the least artificial o four British

. a field sports The otter is a wild nimal , living

the same free life that he has done for generations , and we have yet to learn a good deal concerning

- . r him Being a great wandere , he is here to day

- o and gone to m rrow, and his hunting provides

more glorious uncertainty than the chase o fany

o u other beast . Before yo u can hunt him y must

find him , but whereas with deer , fox , and hare , the

o f finding is often the easiest part the business , in

the case o f the otter it is the most difficult . In a previous chapter we have made brief mention

‘ o f - da s hl ue otter hunting dress . In these y is the

for popular colour Hunt livery , the material most

ow favoured being wo o llen serge . We wonder h modern otter- hunters would like to wear the dress i a . e . mentioned by Bl ine , , a green dress turned up with red , fur cap with gold band , and waterproof

- hip boots decorated with red or gold tassels . 1 5 0 RE M IN I SCE N CE S

It was So me rvile in Th e Chas e who coined ” sl - the phrase y goose footed prowler , and gave

to the world o ne of the best accounts of an otter

- hunt ever penned . Otter hunting seems to have

been little catered fo r in the matter o f songs per

taining to the sport . No doubt there are many purely local ditties concerning the doings of

o f various packs , but few songs real worth have

made their appearance In The Poetry o f

o ne o r two Sport by Hedley Peek , we find , and

in the Otter - hunting Diary o f Mr James

Lomax there are a couple o f Lancashire otter

o f hunting songs . One these songs is in dialect ,

and we take the liberty o f quoting a verse o r two for to anyone who understands broad Lancashire

they convey a lively description o fthe sport . The

song is entitled The Hunt 111 the Hodder . In the first verse the narrator goes to the meet

’ ’ Old S ui re Lo max a I o f h r urn e q s d gs d t e e d t ll , ’ I e o u m o ne mo rn i n I e m m se b th ght e g d s e u y ll , ’ So I do nn d me an d re e o fffo r M tto n dud ri , t y t g , ’ Um I l ande d me ! ust a s th e y loo se d unde r th B rig . 1 5 1 THE B OOK O F THE O TT E R

Choru s

o e r w ur e e r arve r w ur ee r C bbl th , C th ,

R a n o m and R ve r o ud Pi o and aw . d o , l t

r After a good drag , hounds ma k their otter in his b o lt , and Crab the terrier is sent in .

’ Har ! ra s a a e fe i htin him ar as he co n k C b g t g g , h d ,

B e s ar u n s e i z e o o f a do e ve r mo n h p h wd g , y .

W e had no u us e e e um un ro ve n um a bb t ! t cl k d , b ck , ’ ” h - i r Wh e n t grey he ade d mai ste r cro ap e awt n a c ack .

Choru s

Hounds swim their otter for s ome time until at last he takes refuge in a holt .

W e s w um him to W inckle u n e e r he dud o e y, th h yl , B ut a pick nu a Spade s oo n his harbo ur dud Spo il ; ’ T e n h e o u i n o R i e a re e ro th e a h f ght t bbl , y, t th p ck ,

’ ” Th ro fo ar o n um o nce had h im de an o f his back .

Choru s

and Hounds eventually account for their otter, the song finishes with

This otte r w h o as we ight w o r ! ust tw e nty fo ur e a nds p , ’ Tw o ea rs o r minits w o r u n e th h e ands h , f ty , h t d by ; ’ ’ He e r s u to all th a w e n e me e e n nex l ck p ck , h th y t t ear y , ’ Ma th a ai n u n me u n aw us b e e e r. y C pt , , th

Cho ru s 1 5 2

THE BO O K O F THE O T T E R packs before o ur rivers and lakes are thoroughly hunted as they should be . The more otters you kill the more you will have , for riparian owners and tenants are for the most part quite willing to afford

L u tra protection to , when they know that a keen huntsman and a killing pack of hounds are hunting their waters regularly throughout the season .

In conclusion we will finish with the o ld south country toast Death to dog otters ! Long life to the little bitches ! F IN I S

I N D E !

H n s e rs in Ot er r s 2 2 ighla d , ott , 5 5 t , B iti h , H hw un s o n 1 08 ee h 2 ig ay, ho d , back t t of , 9 Hi M r W r n 1 0 co rour 26 ll , ald o , 4 of , B s 0 u s 1 2 2 olt , 49. 5 c b , 3 . 3 . 4 . 43 . 45 . H u n me 6 8 60 o d, li , 75 4 , 47 , 4 , H rn 1 1 0 e 8 o , cok , 37, 3 ‘ w -m ar s 0 cla k of, 4 I N I AN e r 2 w s 1 D ott , 3 cla , 7 In r w e s 28 s 0 te digital b , bolt , 49 , 5 n rm u r 2 ab o al colo of , 3 AM S o MAx 1 2 w e h s and me s ure J E L , 77, 3 ig t a h n K n me n s 0 1 Jo , i g, 73 t of, 3 , 3 ne s r van 1 2 1 Jo , Ma! o E , 3 , 33 h n r e s S 6 PEEK H ED EY 1 1 Jo , Cha l t, 5 , L , 5 ura P ne -m r e n 6 66 J , 3 2 i a t , 5 , ” P e r S r 1 1 o t y of po t , 5

K I NG JO HN, 73 K e net s 1 1 R ECOR D w e s 0 , 3 ight , 3 K e nne s 1 0 R se M r 1 l , 3 o , , 3

ASH w h 1 1 0 SA M O N and er 8 L , ip, L ott , 5 7 , 5 m Se al 8 Lia , 75 , 3 me un S e n 1 0 1 0 Li ho d, 75 c t , 4 , 5 m x m e s 1 2 S n o n W s e 1 00 Lo a , Ja , 77 , 3 ig al , hi tl , S z e e rs 0 1 i of ott , 3 , 3 “ ” MAST R G me S n s e r-h u n n 1 1 E of a , 73 , 75 , o g , ott ti g, 5 1 1 1 1 S e rs e r 3 , 4 p a , ott , 74 ar e n 6 66 S r n s M t , 5 , p ai t , 37 e e n e r -80 S u r 8 M ti g a ly , 77 p , 3 urne 6 Milbo , 3 ’ TAI e r s 2 L , ott , 5 NOTES o n th e rn 1 1 1 Tame u s ho , c b , 47 Ta n 1 00 llyi g , 99 , ’ OTTER n ural s r Te e h e r s 2 , at hi to y of, t , ott , 9 ’ 2 1 - 1 Tr e r s 8 4 ack , ott , 3 h e 2 26 Tr u ht n 1 8 ad of , 4, o g o , Bobby, 3 e Te rr e rs 1 2 -1 28 hid of , 33 i , 5 I n i n 2 d a , 3 n 0 UNI FOR MS un 1 0 diggi g, 7 , h t, 9 e x re m e n c t of , 37 WEI G H TS e rs 0 1 e e 2 of ott , 3 , 3 f t of , 5 We s un s 1 22 fur 2 6 l h ho d , of, 5 , 2 r n s 8 - 0 footp i t of, 3 4 Y N F S OR O . H . 1 , 3 2 A r n 2 f ica , 3 a e 2 ! O O OG ICA G AR DENS g of, 3 L L , 47 , 54, v 1 acti ity of, 55 , 37 7 2

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